A GWENT youth choir is hoping to head to Austria this summer to compete in a world championship event.

The 28-strong Nidus choir, whose members are aged eight and 15 and are from Pontypool, Cwmbran and Newport areas, is bidding to lift the winner's medal at the Choir Olympics in Graz, Austria in July.

Younger members have already won a gold medal at the Abergavenny Eisteddfod and made the finals of the Urdd National Eisteddfod.

Now they want to take it a stage further, but according to the choir's leader Heidi Nicholson there's one major stumbling block - cash.

The trip will cost about £370 per member, which includes transport, board and accommodation.

She said: "The children have been busily raising money to offset the basic costs. They are in urgent need of sponsorship or offers for a concert which can generate a good donation.

"This will be an opportunity of a lifetime for the choir."

The group have already raised £1,300 packing bags at Sainsbury's and have still found time to raise cash for charities such as the Hospice of the Valleys and local hospital wards.

Right now the choir are busily learning their competition songs which will be sung in Welsh, German and English.

*If you can help in any way, please contact 07970 770142 or email heidinicholson@hotmail.com.