Singers from South East Cornwall were joined by the St Petersburg Boys Choir (pictured) as the Cornwall International Male Choral Festival got under way in Saltash last week.

There was a standing ovation for the Russian youngsters, who finished with an uplifting performance of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.

Also singing in the Saltash Wesley Church were the Burraton and Rame Peninsula Male Voice Choirs.

The festival, which takes place every two years and was first launched in 2003, is the world’s largest male choral event.

The Bank Holiday weekend saw 2,000 singers in 60 choirs performing in concerts and competitions across Cornwall, in venues including castles, gardens and theatres.

Locally, concerts took place in St Neot, where the Loveny Male Voice Choir was joined by groups from Epsom, Wales and Sweden, and in Liskeard, where the Gentleman Singers of the Czech Republic sang alongside the Tamar Valley, Liskerrett and Western Male Voice Choirs.