Two singers at St Mary’s Church, in Bury St Edmunds, have made history.

For Toby Cannon is the first boy treble and Charlotte Fawdry, the first lady chorister to have earned the Royal School of Church (RSCM) Music Gold Award.

The church now has five gold award choristers and comes as the result of running Voice for Life classes to train singers in the RSCM scheme.

Toby is probably one of the youngest choristers ever to gain the gold award after singing at St Mary’s for four years.

To earn the award they had to sing several pieces on their own as well as answer questions on their role in the choir and the church.

“It has taken many years of hard work for both of them to get up to the required standard.

“It is the highest award given by the Royal School of Church Music and is a superb achievement.

“We now have had five successful candidates at St Mary’s and are very proud of them,” said Adrian Marple, the director of music.

And Charlotte said: “It was quite a gruelling exam and I was fairly nervous for it but as it went on I felt a little more relaxed. I am really proud that I passed it.”