A Maldon woman who turned to singing after her marriage broke down and she was diagnosed with ME has spoken about starting her own singing group.

Karen Hughes set up Sing Out Loud, community of groups in Colchester and Chelmsford, in 2008.

She hopes to continue to spread the word and show how taking to a tune can improve your wellbeing both physically and mentally.

“I decided to start Sing Out Loud after a low point in my life, when I was beginning to recover from a physical breakdown,” she said.

“It was singing, and being involved in Sing Out Loud, that made me more confident and helped to bring ‘me’ back to life, inside my own skin.

“For quite a while, it was like my body was walking round, but I was so very broken, and fragile inside, that it wasn’t really recognisable, as me, anymore.

“Now, I know how to carefully manage my time, energy and what I do, each week.

“I run Sing Out Loud on a voluntary basis, which always keeps me busy. I know my limits, and occasionally, I have to give in and say ‘no more – at least, for now.’”

People don’t need to read music to join the group You don’t have to be able to read music to join as the songs are learnt by ear under the expert tuition of Brian Crockett.

Songs range from Eric Clapton to The Beatles, to show tunes and music from the 1930s.

This autumn Sing Out Loud will take part in the Chelmsford Library Fun Palace Festival on October 7 and the Showcase Day in Waterloo, London, on October 21.

All are welcome to the Sing Out Loud groups and you don’t have to audition to participate.

The groups meet for ten weeks during term time at The Quaker Meeting House, Colchester, on Mondays at 7pm and at Grove Road Evangelical Church, Chelmsford, on Thursdays at 7.15pm.

For more details call 07853132633 or email info@ sing-out-loud.co.uk or visit www.sing-out-loud.co.uk.