A Chiuppenham choir will celebrate 75 years next year – the same age as its average member.

New chairman Will Barton, who at 52 is the youngest member of Chippenham Male Voice Choir, said: “I feel like I’m in charge of an ageing dinosaur that at some point could become extinct.”

The choir is still going strong with 51 members and five concerts already lined up before Christmas.

But Mr Barton would like to welcome a new generation to join the choir, whose eldest member is 90.

He said they particularly needed more tenors and a musical director.

“I’m in my early fifties and I’m the youngest by far,” said Mr Barton, who runs Mr B’s Barbershop.

“The average member is in their seventies. I think if we can get people there they will enjoy the camaraderie.

“We never have a problem getting bookings and our Neeld Hall Christmas concerts are always sold out. We do monologues, solo parts, and there are quite a variety of songs in the programme.”

The choir was 40-strong when it was formed by the Westinghouse Company in 1940 to entertain the workers during the war. It later changed its name to open its membership up to singers from the town and surrounding villages.

The choir has twinned with the choir of La Fleche in France, Chorale du Carroi, and they meet every two years in alternate countries.

It has been conducted for more than 25 years by Bob Jones, who also plays with the 4+1 Jazz Band.

The choir meets every Monday in United Reformed Church, St Mary’s Street, from 7.45pm to 9.45pm.