Members of the Fron Male Voice Choir have found themselves in a holy battle with the Pope.

The choir, from Froncysyllte, near Oswestry, has been nominated for a Classical Brit Award for the album Voices Of The Valley: Memory Lane.

And the choir finds itself in competition with Pope Benedict XVI, who received his first Classical Brit nomination for Music From The Vatican.

And the choir is also up against names from some of Britain’s biggest television series. Other nominees include X-Factor’s Rhydian Roberts, from Powys, Britain’s Got Talent star Faryl Smith and the winner of Last Choir Standing, Only Men Aloud.

David Jones, spokesman for the Fron choir, said: “This is the fourth year in the row that we have been nominated and we hope everyone in Shropshire and the Welsh border will get behind the choir and vote for us.”

The Fron choir, which saw its fourth album, Memory Lane, reach number three in the Classical charts, was due to name its new conductor tonight after long-term conductor Ann Atkinson stepped down.

Memory Lane included a guest appearance by Dame Vera Lynn.

Votes can be cast via classicfm.co.uk/music and voting closes on April 23.

The winners will be announced at the 11th annual Classical Brit Awards with NS&I in London on May 13.