IT WAS a television sensation, broke world records and brought together thousands of people to sing at Wembley.

Now the Rock Choir has come to Oxford, and managed to pick up more than 70 members in just one week.

The choir brings people together to sing a selection of pop, gospel and Motown in weekly rehearsals.

There are no auditions, no requirement to read music and no one has to sing alone.

Choir leader Debbie Coates said: “We want to get as many people as we can in one room singing together.

“People are more confident about singing in a big group, they do not feel so exposed and there are absolutely no auditions.”

The group meets every Tuesday at Cherwell School, in Marston Ferry Road, and is currently working on the song Oh Happy Day.

Ms Coates said: “The more the merrier. We had our first rehearsal last week and it went really well.

“Everyone was very enthusiastic, there was lots of clapping and swaying.

“We are really trying to make it as fun as we can in a relaxed environment.”

Future artists to be featured include Amy Winehouse, Abba, Queen, Take That and Annie Lennox.

Ms Coates added: “The choir is like a community within a community and people can bring along friends or make new ones along the way.”

The singers were joined at rehearsals last week by the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Elise Benjamin.

She said: “It was great fun – it was really nice to see a mix of people of different ages, men and women.

“I used to be in my school choir, but I have not sung for ages. It was lovely, there was no pressure and I found it all very relaxing.

“I hope I can take my daughter along when I’ve got a bit more time.”

The Rock Choir, which also has branches in Banbury and Bicester, featured in the ITV1 series The Choir That Rocks.

Thousands of singers from towns across the UK then performed together at Wembley Arena in London, something members hope to join in with this year.

The choir also signed to Universal in 2009 and enjoyed chart-topping success with two albums.

It won two Guinness World Records in the process, ‘the largest musical act to release an album’ and ‘the biggest hit act in the UK’.

To find out more, call 01252 714276 or see rockchoir.com