A school choir from Maidstone will sing in the world's biggest church at the Vatican, in Rome, this week.

A group of 46 pupils from Sutton Valence School, aged 12 to 18, are on a six-day tour of the Italian capital, singing in some of its most historic venues.

Their first performance will be at The Pantheon today.

But the highlight will be when they sing for priests and visitors at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the world's largest church with a capacity of 60,000 people.

Audio: The school's director of music Philip Horley talks to kmfm reporter Ant Masters about the trip - click here

They will also perform at St Mary's Maggiore and in catacombs in Southern Rome.

The choir has been rehearsing a programme of 12 traditional anthems and choral music written by a range of English composers, from Thomas Tallis and William Byrd, to classics by Mozart, which they will perform throughout the week.

It is the second time the school has gone on a musical tour of Italy, after a successful trip to Verona in 2002.

It is the second time the school has gone on a musical tour of Italy, after a successful trip to Verona in 2002.

Philip Horley, the school's director of music, said: “The classical background of Rome is a perfect setting for this wonderful choral music and it should give the choir a great experience, as well as confidence in performing in front of a much wider audience than usual.”

The group will have some time for sightseeing and will be visiting the famous Colosseum as well as visiting the harbour in Anzio, site of the famous Allied amphibian landings during World War II.