Alton Choral Society is belatedly celebrating its 150th birthday this year.

It was established in January 1872 with a committee made up of Alton residents Messrs Dyer, Hall, Row, Curtis and Dyke.

To mark the occasion it is performing excerpts from Handel’s Messiah at the Church of St Lawrence on Saturday at 7pm.

A percentage of the proceeds will go to the Bushy Leaze Children and Families Centre in Alton.

Alton historian Jane Hurst said the society previously performed Handel’s Messiah at St Lawrence in July 1918, to a large audience including the Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop of Oxford and the Archbishop of York.

For tickets, priced £12 (children free), visit www.altonchoral.org.uk or pay cash on the door. To join the society call 01420 564168 or email [email protected]