A Lewes amateur gospel choir have won a national singing competition which they entered after only four rehearsals together.

Lewes Sings Gospel (LSG), which runs for two terms a year at Southover Church, were awarded Songs Of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year by judges Mica Paris, Carrie Grant and Muyiwa Olarewaju.

The choir are directed by renowned gospel tutor Karen Gibson, who has lead choirs all over the world and performed for the Queen, Pope Benedict XVI and the Mayor of London.

She said: “I understand the fears that come with stepping into a gospel choir and I’m so grateful everyone trusted me enough to say yes to the journey and to the challenge.”

Andrew Watson, 37, a firefighter from Offham Road, Lewes, was one of the three singers who performed solo with the choir.

He said: “Singing in front of a thousand people was so scary, completely terrifying. But every second was worth it.”

The choir performed for the first time in 2009, and now have 76 members, 40 of whom entered the competition. The gap between the oldest and youngest member is over 50 years.

Rosie Powell, 14, is the choir’s youngest member and a budding musician. She sings in a band but says gospel music is a new experience for her.

She said: “My parents were part of the choir’s first term and when I saw them sing I thought it was beautiful. I was too young to join in then, but now seven years later I’m so happy to be part of the choir.”

Southover’s associate minister, Chris Steynor said: “We wanted a choir that would serve the community and be a community. It was born out of a desire to be family, and it’s working.”