OKEHAMPTON'S youth arts project 'Fusion' has pulled off a major coup by establishing links with a world renowned gospel choir.

The London Community Gospel Choir has worked with such artists as Elton John, Eternal and Gabrielle but now it's the turn of the town's very own choir — Soul Attitude.

The linking of the two gospel choirs has come about through a grant of £2,000 and the enthusiasm of community youth worker Alan King and musical director John Bint.

Mr King said his philosophy was if he aimed for the stars he might get to the moon.

'To me you cannot get any higher than the London Community Gospel Choir,' he said. 'When their musical director phoned me and said, "When can we start?" I had to ask him to repeat it three times.'

The youth worker said he was so surprised by the telephone call because it came two months after he sent off a letter informing the choir about the grant and what he would like to do.

The project by Fusion Youth Arts aimed to link with a larger choir to bring some outside experience to Okehampton. After seeing the London singers perform at the Queen's Theatre in Barnstaple Mr King was very keen to go straight to the top.

'Working with people like this there is no way anyone can't improve in terms of their ability and overall performance,' he said.

Three members of the London choir held their first musical workshop with Soul Attitude on Saturday and there are two more to come in Okehampton and one in London.

Supported by Devon County Council, Fusion Youth Arts was awarded a bursary for its project which will culminate in a performance as part of the National Youth Arts Festival in Ilfracombe in July.

Although the choirs will not be performing together at this stage, Mr King hopes this will happen in the future.

Soul Attitude was formed five years ago and has 24 members between the ages of 14 and 25. The group takes part in concerts and church events all over the local area.

'Hopefully, when the young people start working with the choir, they will realise what we have been getting carried away about,' said Mr King.