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The long-established King's Lynn Male Voice Choir is making a final bid to attract new and younger members to its declining ranks.

A capacity audience for its annual May concert at Lynn Town Hall on Wednesday were told by chairman Anne Greeves that a final decision about the Choir's future would be made at its annual meeting in September.

Until then, an SOS (Save Our Singers) recruitment drive will continue to try and boost its depleted numbers of bass, baritone and tenor voices.

There were only 20 singers in the Celebratory concert and several of these were "guests" required to ensure that the concert went ahead.

The concert was conducted by musical director, Michael Hankinson, with piano accompaniment shared by Anne Greeves and Roger Darbishire.

As first revealed in last month's Lynn News, the future of the Choir, founded in 1957 by Michael Bowskill and Kenneth Riddleston, has been the subject of much debate and discussion over the past few months.

Mrs Greeves revealed, in an emotional end-of-concert speech, that due to the increasing age and poor health of some members it had struggled to stage Wednesday's concert.

She said that despite the current difficulties there remained a "hardcore of members who still love to sing".

PR officer Ian Swinburn said it was unlikely that the KLMVC would be able to continue in its present form.

"It is a reality check for us, but after 61 years of entertaining West Norfolk audiences with hundreds of concerts, we cannot continue in the way we have done," he said.

There was certainly an "end of an era" feel to Wednesday's show which was attended by King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Mayor and Mayoress, Nick and Cheryl Daubney.

They led an audience that included past members land long-term supporters of the choir.

Compere Mike Carter-Rowlands took the capacity audience on a nostalgic journey, looking back over six decades of concerts.

In 1977 the Choir performed before the Queen and the late Queen Mother at a meeting of Sandringham W.I. The members have also featured in a BBC recordings and been involved in various exchanges with overseas choirs.

Many of the concert items were old favourites and these included the popular The Rose, American Trilogy, and You'll Never Walk Alone in which they were joined by soprano soloist, Jennifer Thompson. There were also solo items performed by soprano Amanda Batten, including, Summertime and We'll Gather Lilacs.

Other highlights in a varied and well performed programme included Jamaica Farewell, conducted in flamboyant style by past musical director, Marcus Harley. Music of the Night, was one of three pieces in the concert arranged by the Choir's founder Michael Bowskill.

After many thank yous, led by KLMVC founder member and president Brian Chase, for all that people had done to support the Choir over its long history, the concert closed with Verdi's, Speed Your Journey which, appropriately, included the line "sing again of days that are past". The appreciative audience rose from their seats in warm applause for a wonderful evening of music, song and memories.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the Choir or are interested in joining can contact musical director Michael Hankinson on 0757 251 3512. There will be regular updates, between now and September, about the Choir on its website: www.klmvc.org.uk

Rehearsals are held every Wednesday (during school term time) between 7pm and 9pm at the Springwood High School , Gaywood.