THE first performance of a choir formed by wives and girlfriends of soldiers serving in Afghanistan hit all the right notes with their first public performance.

About 100 shoppers gave a warm reception to the Abingdon Military Wives Choir at the weekend.

The wives and girlfriends of men based at the town’s Dalton Barracks were inspired by TV sensation the Military Wives Choir, who hit No 1 at Christmas.

Laura Bresciani, 27, wife of Captain Marco Bresciani, serving in Helmand Province, joined 15 others in Abingdon Market Place on Saturday.

Songs included Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and Take That’s Rule the World.

Mrs Bresciani said: “It’s a good support network for women who are all going through the same thing.”

About 120 soldiers from 4 Logistic Support Regiment left the base in March. Mrs Bresciani said: “We obviously worry about our partners when they are away but they have got a job to do so we just have to get on with our lives, and this is a lovely distraction.

“Women from the choir in Devon have sent us a message wishing us all the best.”

The group has been given a grant of £1,000 by The Royal British Legion and the singers raised £214 to support the armed forces charity in return.

Choirmaster and Faringdon Primary School teacher Gordon Campbell, said: “The women really enjoy rehearsing and their confidence is growing, they can already do two-part harmonies.”

He the group hoped to perform at an October homecoming parade and said: “The crowd seemed to enjoy it.”

A crowd of about 100 people listened to the performance, including Daniel Bloom, 25, who said: “It’s nice that the people of Abingdon have come out to show their support. I think the choir sounded really good.”