PLANS have been set in motion to expand a Glasgow music programme after its extremely successful first year.

Big Big Sing will now feature a further five additions to their songbook, which have all been inspired by women in the music industry, and will also begin a new extensive community singing pilot and research project.

The project will look at the benefits a citywide community singing network will have on individuals in Glasgow.

Since its launch in January 2014, the group has attracted more than 62,000 people to sing at live events across Britain, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the BIG Big Big Sing day.

Big Big Sing, which is organised by Glasgow UNESCO City of Music, was also responsible for bringing Mzansi Youth Choir, a singing group made up of young people from some of toughest areas in South Africa, to the UK to perform in two gala concerts and work in schools throughout the country as part of International Mandela Day celebrations.

Chief executive of Creative Scotland, Janet Archer, said: "Big Big Sing opened up the world of singing to people of all abilities across Scotland and beyond.

"For many of those taking part it was a welcoming introduction to the enjoyment, the sense of achievement and being part of a wider community that singing brings.

"In homes, village halls, town squares and stages of all sizes, a series of wonderful performances took place thanks to this brilliant project.

"Creative Scotland was delighted to support Big Big Sing as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme through National Lottery funding, and which continues to go from strength to strength."