THE presentation of a new school piano was the highlight of an awards evening for pupils of Ivy Bank High School, Burnley.

The school organised a 'be a part - buy a part' sponsorship scheme to raise the money for the piano and within a very short time the piano's 1,500 parts had been purchased.

Head of expressive arts Terry Parker said: "We raised about £300 to £400 at the awards evening last year, there was an anonymous donation and the rest came in very quickly.

"The piano cost £4,500 and the rest of the money was very generously given by North West Pianos, the Manchester company who supplied the piano.

"It was christened on the night by year eight pupil Charlotte Binns, who played a classical piano piece."

Year 11 music student Hannah Bardsley also performed her first public solo.

More than 120 students received certificates and prizes for their work in art, music and drama at the evening at Burnley Mechanics.

Barclays Bank sponsored the expressive arts awards and the overall winner was year 11 student Alex Johnson. Other winners were Rachel Ford, Matthew Wyatt, Jill Hargreaves and Kate Winstanley.

The awards evening is part of an arts week at the school which has already seen a concert with a top jazz quartet.

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