and say, maybe we can just go out and clean that problem ourselves. if people power works here in dumfries, others could follow, using land reform legislation to save their high streets and bring life back into the centre of their towns. sarah keith lucas has the weather. shaping up to be a weekend of mixed fortu nes shaping up to be a weekend of mixed fortunes out there. many of us had scenes like this one, quite a bit of cloud around and the satellite image shows the crowd has been around central part of the country where is the north and west had clearer skies with sunshine around. this evening we will keep all the cloud in south—east england and up towards scotland. rain in east anglia shifting up to north—east england and into scotland overnight. elsewhere, any evening showers ease

away to leave largely dry and clear conditions and a chilly night in the west, particularly for northern ireland very could see a touch of grass frost first thing on sunday. after a klister .com that east—west split continues. sunday is in cloudy to the east and the best sunshine found for the west. sunday is shaping up with rain across parts of north—east england and scotland. also showers for east anglia, probably a drier and brighter day for the south—east england and towards the midlands. plenty of sunshine in western scotland, northern ireland, wales and north—west england. temperatures between 15 and i7 north—west england. temperatures between 15 and 17 in sunni areas. cooler towards the eastern coast. looking ahead to the working week, high pressure building in from the south—west. still an area of low pressure not far away, sitting across parts of france, so we could see a fuse showers and fairly cloudy conditions for the south—east of england and east anglia for a time on monday. elsewhere a largely dry

day with pressure building and there will be sunshine with temperatures starting to lift a little. more cloud in parts of northern ireland and western scotland later in the day but it should be warm and night has been in the weekend with temperatures around 20 or 21 stop not a bad day on tuesday with dry and fine weather. a weak front will bring cloud to northern ireland and western scotland ‘s top spots of rain, dry and sunny and improve today across the east. temperature is doing pretty well, 21, 22 in the warmest spots and fresh to the far north—west. high—pressure building, so north—west. high—pressure building, so next week is looking pretty decent. lots of dry weather with sunny spells and temperatures on the up. this is bbc news — our latest headlines... voting has closed in iraq. it's the first parliamentary election since the country declared victory over the group that calls itself islamic state. tens of thousands of people have marched through central london, demanding better pay and improved job security. the foreign office says it's supporting the families

of two british nationals, who were kidnapped in a national park in the democratic republic of congo. now on bbc news, withjust a week until the marriage of prince harry and meghan markle, we meet the unique choir playing their part in celebrating the royal wedding. the engagement between harry and meghan has put a smile on the face of the nation. and inspired gospel singer sandra godley to come up with an idea. to find volunteer singers to form an amateur choir and record a charity single as a wedding gift to the happy couple. but it's no ordinary choir. all her singers are facing up to physical or mental difficulties in their lives. at the age of four i was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.

the doctors said i wouldn't live to see 16. we looked for people with all sorts of abilities and backgrounds and boy, have we got them. for sandra and her choir, it's been a roller—coaster of a ride. i mean, i had a major emotional meltdown this morning. this week's been rough. this morning was the first time i managed to get in without having a panic attack. taking them to places and performances they could only dream of. but as the wedding draws closer... just move, just swap over. has she bitten off more than she can chew? we've just had an invitation to windsor. can i pull it off? sandra godley is a professional singer—songwriter who has performed her music all over the world. hello! she lives in coventry, a couple of hours from where harry and meghan are due to tie the knot

in windsor castle. so, sandra, what's the inspiration to this choir? the inspiration has come through the amazing work prince harry and his family have done, particularly with organisations like invictus. fantastic work. they start walking down the road towards the mall. the big overriding thing for me is the memory i've always had of him, prince harry, walking behind the coffin of his late mother and only recently being able to talk about that in public. it really has been inspiration for me to move forward with this project. so what's so special about this choir? what are you looking for? oh, i'm looking for amazing people. people who have faced challenges, either physical challenges orjust challenges in terms of stress and anxiety. that combination coming together is going to be really unique and sets the choir apart from any other choir, i think. immediately sandra faces her first hurdle. would anyone actually volunteer to help her get her royal wedding singalong off the ground? well, soon, word spreads.

sandra's idea strikes the right chord. bbc coventry and warwickshire. it starts making headlines. a gospel singer from coventry is creating a special choir to perform in the lead up to prince harry and meghan markle's wedding, this may. and it's not long before the demo tapes start rolling in. # so far away, but still so near # created me...# ijust kind of locked myself in a room, you know, every time i got four or five that came in and just blown away by the fact that someone would put their time into putting their face in front of a video and saying, "this is me". # going up to yonder...# that's what got me — people just stood where they wanted to come in their bedrooms, outside the house, in the car, nervously just saying, "this is what i've got, will you listen to it?".

absolutely moving. # lean on me # when you're not strong # one of the many people moved to get in touch is rupak who has suffered decades of depression. in recent years i've started suffering quite a lot from anxiety, crying and everything. getting very emotional, not wanting to go out. can't even face getting out of bed and seeing anybody, or talking to anybody. the idea of standing obviously in public was one of the scariest things i could imagine doing. and then i thought, no, i could never do that. as soon as i said that, there's a part of me that will not back down from a challenge. whatever happens, i have to try this. jonty g also responded to sandra's call to action. i was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of four. the doctors said that by the age of eight i'd be in a wheelchair and i wouldn't live to see 16. and i'm 29 now, yeah. former car parts worker dave

is in pain 2a hours a day from a nerve disease that stops him from walking. it affects every part of the body from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet. every nerve in the body is affected. ilike singing. i think choirs sound brilliant and it's a release. with so many people wanting to join in her royal wedding singalong, sandra holds auditions to narrow the field. the venue, the awesome interior of coventry cathedral. # if you need me, call me # no matter where you are # summertime and the living is easy... scores of people turn up to face sandra and her panel ofjudges. for many, the biggest stage they have ever sung on. so, canjonty g, rupak

and dave impress her? singing, for me, is really a way for me to release my stress and tensions. i feel so free when i'm singing. i think it changes a lot of people's lives but it also changes me. # like a bridge over troubled waters #. i think you're anxious, you want it to go well. even walking in, standing in a particular position for a certain amount of time while they're recording, it was challenging but good. # i will lay me down # rupak is trying hard to stop her nerves from getting the better of her.

i've decided to go for this and yet i find the whole thing really terrifying. i keep telling myself that the worst thing that can happen is that you'll stand up and you won't get to be able to sing. that's the worst thing, my voice won't come out. and that's fine, that's all right. the sky's not going to fall in. it's not the end of the world. but it'sjust, for some reason it's really terrifying. # i'm all out of love # i'm so lost without you #. i was absolutely terrified. when i was standing there, my legs were shaking, my hands were shaking. everything was shaking! my body was just working against me and i didn't think it was going to happen. i was scared, really scared. # i can't be too late # to say that i was so wrong #. applause you did say that you don't have

to be a great singer, you have to have heart. heart, i have plenty of. # take the ribbon from your hair #. and then it's time for dave and his baritone to take centre stage. # shake it loose and let it fall # lying soft against my skin #. my boots were shaking before i put them on. it was quite nerve—racking. so nerve—racking in fact — his mind goes blank. # i could take nothing from you... sorry. i'm in front of the judges, warbling away, the first verse was fine, the second verse, going fine and suddenly, third line, gone, disappeared. the third line had just vanished like a rabbit from a hat.

it was nowhere. that was it. there are moments when i had to get up out of my chair and help one or two of them who were struggling a little bit but then they found their backbone and suddenly you see these people come alive. at the end of the auditions we were all singing together, everybody, from the helpers through to the people who were there to audition. it was a realjamboree, as it were. so, yeah, absolutely scared to start off with but totally rejoicing and happy at the end. whittling more than 200 hopefuls down to the 26 who will make up the choir takes several days. and then it's time to break the good news to the successful singers. hello, is that francis. yes, it is. hello, darling. i've got some good news for you. 0n good friday. i want to tell you that you've made it through to the choir.

singing thank you! 0h, she's started early, singing. that's lovely. jonty g has also made the cut. so excited, i was literally sitting there thinking, wow, i'm so glad that i've made it through. it was just amazing to get that call. and despite the nerves, so have dave and rupak. it was just fantastic to get the phone call. i was like, i'm not going to get the phone call, i've had it, you know, and then that was it, it was there. it was, ijust felt lifted. i had my speech ready to say because i was complete... are you sure? she said rupak, you got through and i was like... i was just really surprised. and the name of the new choir, gosp—ability. # i should be so lucky

# lucky, lucky, lucky # i should be so lucky in love # i should be so lucky # lucky, lucky, lucky # i should be so lucky in love #. gospel just really reflects my background and that's basically based on love and giving away, that's great. but the ability side of the title really does, for me, i guess, give some definition in terms of, we're looking for people with all sorts of abilities and backgrounds, and boy, have we got them. she has her choir but now she needs a song. fit for a prince and his bride. what comes first, the melody or the lyrics? i start dreaming and i think, what am i thinking about? this is a love song, so of course, love hearts everywhere. a lot of pressure, you know, you've got to create this song, fit for a prince and a soon to be duchess. my goodness, huge pressure but actually, what i'm trying to do is simplify everything, simple lyrics that will relate to everybody.

ok, let's hear a bit. harry is a bit of a groover. there's strong rhythm in this song so i think it fits just about everybody‘s tastes and i'm looking forward to hearing, harry, what you think about this song. # without you there is no song... that's me really saying without, you know, love, you're not going to get very far. and i feel that those lyrics are apt. the tune is called the big love song and sandra now hears that her choir will notjust be recording a charity single, they've also been invited to perform it live in the magnificent guildhall in windsor. 36 hours before the couple tie the knot. everything is falling into place. the big love song is written and there is a live gig at windsor in the pipeline.

with the wedding just a month away, the choir are gathering for rehearsals and beginning to jam. elvis! do you want to borrow my glasses? laughter cheering all these people, 26 of them, have come, not expecting that they would become friends, that they would have this common journey together. it is fine being friends, but can sandra get them to sing? you kind of dip your head into that. singing two, three, four. not bad, and her big love song is going down well. # no matter what some may say, love will go all the way # without you there is no song #. my gosh, it's a bit nerve—racking, but so exciting. i'm loving it, i'm absolutely loving every minute.

i feel honoured to be a part of it, i really do. this morning was the first time i managed to get into coventry without having a panic attack. so, yeah, i'm really happy that i got here and i wasn't shaking. the people are amazing, you know, everybodyjust seems so positive about life and they're really getting into this opportunity and, you know, we're singing for a royal. what can i say? but not everybody is finding the choir easy. i had a major emotional meltdown this morning. this week's been rough, i fell apart, and for some reason for all of last week i started to feel like a fraud. look at the talent in this group, what am i doing here? i'm gonna start the first line, remember, 0k, got that, no diva moments until later. the first rehearsal was full of adrenaline and everyone wanted to be there, they'd never seen each

other before, fun and games. during the second rehearsal, i thought, is this actually going to happen? i need people who are still dynamic and full of energy and i found some of them had lost their confidence a little bit. my health problems and issues i feel like they're self—inflicted because they come from inside, the enemy sits inside me, it's not something on the outside. and i felt so horrible about myself that i've done this to me, nobody else has. so much respect and awe for the people in the group who are dealing with this. and i wasn't in their control. 0k. sandra is at the helm, steering it all. i think she knows when you're having a bad moment because she sometimes looks at you, you know, are you all right? people who have stood and said i want to come forward and bare my all even though i've had these issues, they are very brave, i see them all as being really brave. i'm here and i'm so grateful.

back here again and the sun is shining, we had an amazing rehearsal, and this is really what life is about, not the horrible voice in the head that constantly tries to overwhelm me. and all too soon it is time to get into the studio to record the single. the recording, that's where i was nervous. i thought, blimey, watch me muff it up now. recording the song, the big love song, was one of the most exciting and rewarding things i've ever done and i've recorded an awful lot. here they were, 26 people, in their clothes, dressed up, and that made a difference because they felt they were at work, doing something they should be doing. it was like a nuclear reactor going off and we were all beginning to spark and all of a sudden you hit that explosion and everybody is in the same moment. 0h! you're off. it's a great feeling.

the sound was amazing, the whole thing about coming together is important and being a team and being a family and that's the strength of the choir. cheering they've recorded a charity single, battled their demons, and made lifelong friends. now, with the wedding gig in windsor just weeks away, they face a new and unexpected challenge. gosp—ability have been invited to perform live here at coventry cathedral in front of a huge audience including the man presiding over the royal wedding, the archbishop of canterbury. our first gig at coventry cathedral in front of the archbishop, i don't think it gets much better than that. listen, there's someone at the back, i'm not sure which guy it is, they're singing a different part. just keep to the melody, try and listen to everybody, 0k. one, two, three. the studio, there's a certain amount of control that can be held by the people doing the recording.

a live performance, you're out there, on the edge of the crevice, and if you drop a clanger you've dropped a clanger. so the kind of things that could happen, somebody forgets their words. 0r someone decides that they really don't want to be part of it and it's just too enormous, "you didn't tell us it was like this". the big thing for me because i've tried to teach them how to sway from left to right which may not seem a big thing. but if you have someone going in completely the wrong direction... and on the day of gosp—ability‘s first live performance you could feel the excitement. it's gonna be great. just remember to focus, lots of smiles. sandra does such a good job of making us feel comfortable, coming into this cathedral on a very hot day, with a big hug, i'm just thrilled, i want to do it now. it's gonna be great. i've just walked into the cathedral, stepped in and seen all these chairs, looked straight up the aisle, and thought, gosh, we're going to be singing here today, the first time singing in public

like this, and in front of the archbishop of canterbury. 0h! that's all i can say. you know sandra, who leads it, is an old mate of mine from when i was working here. she is an extraordinary choir leader, the way she enables people to find talents and gifts that they had no idea that they had, it's a liberation of the people involved. remember this, guys. i cannot hold a note in my head and i will spend the service when they're singing, listening, thinking, "i can't do that". laughter over 700 people here to see this concert, gosp—ability simply have to deliver. # no matter what some might say, your love will go all the way # without you there is no song

# you know where you belong # no matter what some might say, your love will go all the way # without you there is no song # you know where you belong # no matter what some might say, your love will go all the way # without you there is no song # you know where you belong # no matter what some may say # your love will go all the way # without you there is no song #. applause amazing, this has been a dream come true. you know, i was so nervous because we practised and practised, we encouraged, we prayed and everything. and you know, will they deliver, that was the question, and they did. they were so incredible.

i was in heaven. that was just brilliant, absolutely wonderful. rupak, how do you feel it went? i think it went really well, really well. it was a bit hairy for a lot of us but we really enjoyed it, i really enjoyed it. i couldn't control myself. i was really enjoying it, the energy was phenomenal. and to just see the crowd respond to them when they were singing, clapping and cheering, it was incredible. i loved every moment of it. wow. i want to thank everybody in this group for making me a part of it. # lean on me # when you're not strong # and i'll be yourfriend #. but that was all just a rehearsal for what would be their biggest gig to date, singing live on the bbc at the guildhall in windsor in the run—up to harry and meghan‘s wedding. for that performance, they will have an audience of millions. they think i'm crazy because each

time there's something bigger and better to do, but boy, they're switched on. somehow we've got a bunch of people who are now really reaching for the stars. # it won't be long # and i'm going to be # somebody to lean on #. cheering who are you? all: gosp-ability! go where? all: gosp-ability! # gosp—ability cheering

and east—west split in the weather today. rain in aberdeenshire and up today. rain in aberdeenshire and up to the northern isles. clearer skies elsewhere and it would be quite chilly with light wind and clear skies particularly across parts of northern ireland, so they could beat grass frost first thing on sunday morning. west is best in terms of sunshine. a dry and sunny day for northern ireland, the west of scotland, west and england. spots of rain in north—east england and north—east scotland. drier to the

south—east and the north east midlands with afternoon spells of sunshine. temperatures between 13 and i7, sunshine. temperatures between 13 and 17, cooler around the east coast, but things will warm up with light wind and sunny spells as we head to the course of next week. this is bbc world news today. our top stories. north korea says it will start dismantling its nuclear test site in less than two weeks — and in full view of the world's media. iraqi first parliamentary election since the country declared victory over so—called islamic state passes off largely peacefully. turkey's president tells the bbc that president trump made the wrong decision in pulling out of the iran nuclear deal. and how this mini—helicopter — no bigger than a grapefruit — could well revolutionise the exploration of mars. north korea has announced it

will dismantle its nuclear test