The South Oxhey Community Choir has promised to carry on singing – long after it makes its television debut on Tuesday evening.

The group is featured in the new series of hit BBC documentary series The Choir, which sees fearless vocal coach Gareth Malone turn often reluctant recruits into singing sensations.

Four-part series The Choir: Unsung Town tells the story of the group’s humble beginnings; its recruitment drives and gruelling rehearsals – a remarkable journey leading to a recording session at Abbey Road Studios and a highly-acclaimed headline performance at the South Oxhey Festival in May.

The story began in 2008 when All Saints Vicar Pam Wise, a long-time fan of the show, contacted the BBC to suggest South Oxhey as a location. She told the Watford Observer how the results had not only surpassed her wildest dreams but left a lasting community legacy.

She said: “When we started filming in August I was terrified that nobody would be interested in taking part but the result was fantastic.

“We had people from all over the estate – from all walks of life – wanting to take part in this amazing project. They came together in friendship and fellowship to achieve something amazing.”

As Revd Wise suggests, the show’s first episode, to be broadcast on BBC2, depicts the struggle to entice recruits – many of whom had never sung a note outside of the bathroom.

Yet the programme’s success, she argues, rests not just with its entertainment value; rather with its lasting legacy in an often-maligned community.

She added: “The best thing to come out of the series is that this choir will carry on. We have about 150 dedicated members who want to carry on singing.

“This experience has given the whole community a lift and a well deserved pride in itself. For the first time that negative reputation has been well and truly vanquished.

“The project has encouraged such friendship and fellowship in people who previously may never have even met. But more importantly it’s given people a real pride and belief in themselves – a belief that they can achieve great things and can make a difference."

With active adult and youth sections the choir is now seeking funding to carry on its good work. Anyone interested in donating should visit its website www.southoxheychoirs.org