YOUNGSTERS are demanding they be heard.

The event, Children of Bury Sing, is in danger of folding if an appeal for cash falls on deaf ears.

The Vivace Charitable Trust, the charity which has brought more than 450 of Bury's primary school pupils together to perform in the popular annual event, has run out of money. And both the National Lotteries Board and the North West Arts have turned down an application for funding.

The Trust was established in 1997 to give schoolchildren across the North West the opportunity to sing and perform at large scale venues. To-date more than 30,000 children from more than 650 schools have performed in more than 70 concerts.

Every year youngsters are invited to take part in a choral event at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, which this year takes place on Monday (June 30). The concert will involve schools from across the borough and the North West.

Leading the fight to save the Children of Bury Sing event is Mrs Donna Kiernan, deputy head of St Mary's CE Primary School in Hawkshaw.

She said: "This concert could possibly be the last one. The whole positive experience of working as a team, both at individual choir and massed choir levels cannot be overstated. Children gain self-confidence and esteem, develop self-discipline and extend their musical skills to a level they did not believe possible. Pupils, parents and teachers have nothing but praise for the whole process."

Year 5 and 6 have written letters to David Chaytor MP asking for his support and Mrs Kiernan is contacting all schools involved in Monday's concert to write to their MPs.

"As a school we are currently contacting local businesses to investigate the possibility of further sponsorship to ensure Vivace does not come to an end," said Mrs Kiernan.

"The Trust needs £50,000 in order to continue its good work next year. In the scheme of things this is not an awful lot of money given the work Vivace does for hundreds of children in Bury."

Anyone who can help should contact Mrs Kiernan on 01204886167.