A JAZZ group are playing in a town centre to attract more people to local businesses.

The Tees Valley Jazzmen have started performing on the last Thursday of every month at No 1 The Marketplace in Bishop Auckland.

The group formed 43 years ago and are well known across the North-East for their Jazz gigs.

Organiser and banjo player Gavin Belton, who lives in Bishop Auckland, said he hopes the band’s monthly performances will attract people into the town centre.

He said: “We want to show that Bishop Auckland is a vibrant town centre with plenty going on.”

Also in the band are Tim Derbyshire on bass, Gavin Lee playing the clarinet and saxophone and Don Fairley on trombone.

The group, which also includes Mr Belton’s bother Keith on keyboards, will perform between 12.30pm and 3pm on the last Thursday of every month.