A ROSSENDALE primary school has won a sports and art grant worth thousands of pounds, to get pupils interested in music.

St James Primary School, in Regent Street, Haslingden, was awarded £2,500 from the Foundation for Sport and the Arts, which aims to help children from the "grassroots".

Headteacher John Nuttall said the grant would go towards the school's bid to help them drive forward music in and out of school hours.

He said: "We have been trying to increase our musical involvement in school for some time.

"In the past 12 to 18 months we have tried to improve the study and enjoyment for children learning music.

"Some will be given the opportunity to play a musical instrument for the first time, which is fabulous."

Mr Nuttall added: "We want to promote out-of-school classes, such as a recently launched violin class.

"Organisations are also coming into school to perform for us, including Lancashire Music Services, who performed a concert to show music in a different light."

The money will go towards buying new percussion instruments, including a range of new drums.

Music co-ordinator Elizabeth Wisdom said: "This is a real boost for the school, we believe it has benefits beyond the teaching of music. The children are very enthusiastic about music which will inspire them to learn about the subject and want to take an active part in it."