Singing lessons for convicts

A CLASSICAL musician is teaching convicts to sing after setting up Britain's first prison choir.

Flautist and singer Shona Brown, 27, is working with inmates at Addiewell prison in West Lothian.

Ms Brown, a finalist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year, was approached by bosses at the privately-run jail who wanted to offer singing classes to inmates.

She plays piano during the weekly 90-minute sessions while the prisoners sing tunes by Scots rock band Biffy Clyro, the Beatles and country legend Johnny Cash.

Ms Brown, who lives in Motherwell, said: "The numbers coming along has been increasing. I think it can be quite hard in a male prison for someone to say 'I'm going to the choir', but it is slowly building up."