Letters sent to Sir Edward Elgar are being auctioned in Ludlow

The series of letters, from the Hanley Choral Society, Stoke-on-Trent, in 1921 are being auctioned in Ludlow.

The society asked Sir Edward to conduct a jubilee performance of one of his most famous cantata for the choristers.

But the Worcestershire composer's agent refused, saying that the group could not afford him.

Experts say it was more a case of the society over-reaching itself rather than greed on the part of Elgar.

The letters are part of a bundle of Elgar correspondence being auctioned on Thursday.