PRIMARY schoolchildren will be raising the roof at Bury Parish Church on Tuesday, December 7, for the borough's biggest Christmas Concert.

The event is the "grand finale" of Ramsbottom Music Festival choral workshop which has been running for a month.

The workshop - the first of its kind in the borough - was established by Ramsbottom Musical Festival Committee to improve and enhance the teaching of music.

Under the leadership of Gordon Stewart, an acclaimed musician and workshop director, staff and pupils from ten primary schools have been learning the finer techniques of music-making in readiness for Tuesday's concert. Following a day-long workshop held at the Radcliffe Civic Suite, Mr Stewart has spent time in each of the primary schools building on what both staff and pupils have learnt.

Mr Stewart will conduct the concert and Mr Ronald Frost, Ramsbottom Music Festival president, will be accompanying on the organ.

Some 300 youngsters will perform a variety of songs in front of guests including the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Councillor John Costello and his wife Anne, education chiefs and sponsor, Mr Brian Ribchester of Rothwells Super Travel.

For ticket information ring Stella Jackson, the committee's education liaison officer, on 01204 88 2139.

Youngsters at Holcombe Brook CP School are pictured with Mr Stewart fine tuning their voices for the big night.

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