A CROSS Hills school boy has won a place with the National Youth Boys Choir this summer.

Thirteen-year-old Jeff Green was picked for the choir, which feeds into the National Youth Choir, after attending an audition in Wigan and will start training and touring with the company this summer.

Jeff started singing while attending Malsis School, in Glusburn, taking part in musicals and singing with the school choir. He was also an active member of the choir at Kildwick Church, and has returned there for the past three years to take solo parts in the Christmas carol service.

"I have been singing since I was about seven," he said. "I like the atmosphere of the church and the halls, and the actual singing but particularly when I am doing solos."

Jeff concentrates mainly on choir singing, but has taken part in folk singing festivals and said he would consider other forms of singing in the future, depending on what happens when his voice breaks.

He awaits fuller details on what membership of National Youth Boys Choir entails but is looking forward to overseas touring and residential coaching in the school holidays.

Meanwhile he will be concentrating on his music exams, including clarinet and his other hobby - hockey.