Forget jam-making and flower-arranging... this group of Women's Institute members, including one from Tamworth is aiming to top the charts.

Jennie Mantell, 35, a dispensing optician who is a member of Mile Oak, Tamworth WI, is of five talents chosen from hundreds of hopefuls to land a record deal with music giant Universal.

The group, called The Harmonies, will feature in a Marks & Spencer poster campaign.

Record bosses launched a search for WI members earlier this year, inviting the 6,500 branches to get involved. And 600 versions of rousing anthem Jerusalem were submitted to judges with a final shortlist of 30 invited to auditions at Abbey Road Studios this summer.

Since then, the lucky quintet has been working on an album to be released next month and they will make their live debut this weekend by royal appointment.

They are to perform at Prince Charles's eco-festival, A Garden Party To Make A Difference at St James's Palace on Saturday.

Universal is investing £1 million into pushing the group and debut album Voices of The WI, to be released on October 25.

The other members are: Doreen Connor, 41, a primary school teacher who lives in Tutshill, Gloucestershire (member of Tutshill WI); Gemma Waznicki, 26, a project officer in crime prevention strategy who lives in Bow, east London (member of East End WI); Jan Mason, 54, an NHS team secretary, who lives in Rainham, Kent (member of Wigmore WI); Naomi Willmott, 37, a hospital administrator who lives in Bristol (member of Bitton, Bristol WI).

Their album includes tracks such as Wonderful World, Dream A Little Dream Of Me and Imagine, as well as Jerusalem.

Ruth Bond, who chairs the National Federation of Women's Institutes, said: "This has been a hugely exciting project right from the very beginning and we are really looking forward to hearing the final record."