A choir travelled to Ukraine to stage a series of special concerts to raise thousands of pounds in aid of orphans in the country.

Some 24 members of Wanstead and Woodford Rock Choir travelled to eastern Europe last month to perform four concerts with proceeds going to charity.

The group, on their first ever tour of Ukraine, were particularly well received in the town of Kozova, where they also met orphans benefitting from social care programmes.

has called choristers she performed with in Ukraine “her favourite choir”.

Choir leader, Christina Clark, 30, of Hemel Hempstead, who has been in charge of the singers since 2009, said the group are the best she works with.

Christina, who is originally from Ternopil, in western Ukraine, said: “They are so sociable whereas in other bits of London it’s difficult to find that. They meet up outside of choir, organise charity events. They organise trips abroad.

“We sang at the smaller town Kozova where we met orphans benefiting from social care. We performed in a local club to a full crowd despite the heat. The locals wished us good health and well-being in Ukrainian. We felt so appreciated and very uplifted.”

The choristers raised £4,521 over four concerts in three days, part of which was a £2,000 donation from a “mystery UK donor” inspired by their trip.

The rock choir performed twice in Lviv, in St Peter and St Paul Temple and Reno Square. Some shows were 45 minutes while others were an hour.

One of the shows went so well the choir was asked to perform again.

Christina added: “We had four concerts, the first in an old cathedral full of local press and people. That show went so well the local authority asked us to perform in the main square the next day! The trams had to slow down it was so full.”

The choir performed a range of contemporary and classic songs, from Beyonce’s “Halo” to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer”.

Choristers also learned to sing in Ukrainian after a duet with the Children’s Choir Zorynka.

The choir hope to return to Ukraine for another tour at a later date, but will next perform closer to home at Wanstead Festival on Sunday, September 17.