Dorchester will be in fine voice at the premier performance of a song for the county town.

The project called ‘A Song for Dorchester’ is the brain child of Dorchester Mayor Tess James and musicians Geof Edge and Kathie Prince.

The idea was to ask people from Dorchester and the surrounding villages what made the place so special and using their suggestions for words, lyrics and themes, Geof and Kathie would create a song to be performed by the community in aid of the mayor’s charities Dorset Nightstop, Mediation Dorset and Footprints.

After months of preparation the day is drawing near when the community will get to learn and perform it for the first time on Saturday, March 3 at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester.

A workshop to learn it will run from 1.30pm to 3.30pm and the premier performance will be at 4pm.

Mayor Tess James said the song was now in the final stages.

She said: “Kathie and Geof have been trying out bits and making sure it’s all working.

“There are some lovely catchy rhythms in it.

“It will be very accessible.

“It will be something we are humming and it will be going round our heads.

“It’s very catchy.”

She added: “It will be about waking up in Dorchester and the mill stream and the market and how it comes to life.

“It fits in with spring coming.”

Residents were asked for their ideas for themes and lyrics for the song.

Mrs James said: “We have had a great response from everyone.

“People from all ages, individuals and groups have sent in ideas. There’s been a real mixture.”

The mayor said she hoped as many people would come along to the workshop and the performance as possible.

She said: “It’s going to be great fun.

“There will be a workshop for two hours that will be fun just learning the song.”

She added: “Different groups and different ages have been saying we want to come and join in.

“We have invited singers from local choirs.

“It’s open to everyone.”

The workshop and performance will be free and there will be a collection for the mayoral charities.

It is open to anyone from the area to join in, not just from Dorchester.

Mrs James said she hoped the song would be a success and would be a legacy for the town created by the people.