Meet Shropshire's very own Military Wives

Dozens of women, whose partners were serving their country on the frontline, joined forces to face an anxious wait for the safe return of their loved ones by learning to sing together.

But now the story of the Military Wives Choir has reached Shropshire.

About 40 women with connections to RAF Shawbury and Tern Hill Barracks, near Market Drayton, have started making their own sweet music.

Members range in age from their teens to their 50s. The group was formed in Shawbury at the beginning of the year for singers of all ages and abilities.

After meeting all year for weekly rehearsals, the county choir features on the new Military Wives album, which was conducted by celebrity choirmaster Gareth Malone.

The new album called Stronger Together features 760 singers from 24 choirs set up at British military bases nationwide and as far away as Cyprus and Germany.

Mother-of-two Sarah Davies, 39, from Shawbury, a member of the choir committee, said recording with the TV star was an amazing experience.

She said: "We are very excited. We recorded it in the summer, they came to Shawbury to record us, and then in September we all went to London to Wellington Barracks to record the video.

"It features 659 people and is a world record for the biggest ever video shoot."

Members said they were inspired to start a choir following the success of Mr Malone's TV show The Choir: Military Wives last year which charted the origins of the original choir.

For the new album they sung show tunes, classic hits and cover versions of new tracks by artists including Take That.

The county choir's answer to Mr Malone is Neil Welch, from Clive, near Wem, who became its musical director after being invited to get involved by a friend.

He said: "It's good fun and it's nice to support something that has a national following. They're also a lovely bunch of people."

Mother-of-two Andrea Mason, 44, from Shawbury, said: "Life can be very fragmented in a forces family. You're always moving somewhere new with no friends or family, and it takes time to find a job and make friends.

"Doing this has been brilliant. Lots of people have made fantastic friends, and we all enjoy singing."

For some members, like Rose Duckfield and her 18-year-old daughter Megan, being in the choir is a family affair.

Megan, who studies at Adams College in Wem, said: "I've really enjoyed it because my confidence has been boosted a lot. Many people have said I've become a different person."

Michelle Gee, a 37-year-old mother-of-three who moved to Shawbury last December, appeared on BBC Breakfast yesterday to promote the launch of the CD and book, sales of which will raise money for the Military Wives Choirs Foundation.

She said: "It's really a support network for us. It's great fun, but we work really hard at it."

Emily Marr, 29, from Shawbury, said: "We've become one great big family."

The choir also boasts a few members from naval families, and seven wives of soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment based in Tern Hill. Kerrie Johnston, a 37-year-old mother-of-two, is married to the regiment's Colour Sergeant Ian.

She said: "When our other halves are on tour it's really hard. Being part of the choir takes your mind off it."

In the run-up to Christmas, the choir is scheduled to appear at shows across the West Midlands. It has been invited to appear at a Help For Heroes fundraiser in Sutton Coldfield, and the annual Carols in the Square open air concert in Shrewsbury town centre in December.

So far the choir has delighted audiences with performances at the officers' mess during the airbase's annual reception, and a fundraiser for the Royal British Legion at Shawbury Village Hall.

A book about the project is being published by Harper Collins on Thursday.