The Military Wives Choir have raised over £500,000 for charity and are now set to release an album.

Started by choirmaster Gareth Malone on a BBC2 documentary series last year, the vocal group, made up of the wives and girlfriends of British soldiers serving in Afghanistan, today presented a cheque for £503,985 to their two nominated charities.

The proceeds of their Christmas 2011 number one single, Wherever You Are, will go to The Royal British Legion and SSAFA Forces Help.

Meanwhile, the choir have announced their upcoming album In My Dreams, which will be released in time for Mother's Day on 12 March.

The title track is by Paul Mealor, who wrote Wherever You Are - using lines from the wives' letters to their husbands - and also composed music for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The album will include cover versions of Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love, Coldplay's Fix You and U2’s With or Without You.