A Croydon company is bringing harmony to churches all over the world with its unique karaoke' machine that can play almost 3,000 hymns and songs.

Hymn Technology's new invention means that churches struggling to find a talented organist can still conduct traditional services.

The Hymnal Plus machine is the brainchild of inventor Martin Phelps, who developed the gizmo after a similar appliance made in the US was discontinued.

The machine can play hymns in hundreds of styles, speeds and keys. More technologically minded clergy can download songs on to an internal memory card using the MP3 format. So far around 100 churches have bought one of the machines, which cost £1,900.

But some are wary that the new technology may sound the death knell for the traditional organist.

Mr Phelps, however, denied this. He said: "We're not a threat to anyone. We actually get a lot of calls from organists. They're looking for a way out.

"More and more churches are playing contemporary stuff and these old dears are alright with the traditional hymns, but not with the happy-clappy stuff.

"This lets them off the hook. We've also had calls from vicars asking us for a brochure so they can leave one on the organ stand as a hint."