BLACKBURN is one of ten towns to have been awarded funding for free music events.

A government grant will help Blackburn with Darwen Young Voices create a new 100-strong youth choir, with taster sessions set to take place in schools and youth clubs.

A ten-week choir course will then build towards the performance of a new civic song.

The scheme follows on from the ‘our big gig’ events in the summer, which saw cash awarded to various projects across the country, including Hyndburn Arts Trust, to put on free music in parks.

Communities Minister Stephen Williams said: “This summer our big gig series of concerts was a huge success, getting well over 200,000 people from different backgrounds and from communities across the country involved in local music events.

“I want people to maintain the new interest in music and the goodwill that’s been created.”