THERE are strings attached to a maestro's visit to Britain - the cherished cello of musician Mindaugus Backus must fly club class.

The cellist is flying to Teesside from Lithuania, to play at festival of classical music at Kirkleatham, near Redcar.

A seat has been reserved for his beloved instrument which he says is too valuable to risk being consigned to the plane's cargo hold.

The festival organiser, Redcar businessman Peter Sotheran, said: "We have had to raise a few hundred more on top of his normal fee, to pay for the air ticket for the cello - about £300.

"When you get a major orchestra flying they pack their instruments into special containers which are placed in a container in the plane's hold.

"It is different when you get one musician flying on his own. I suppose we have just got to be grateful it was not a double bass."

Mr Sotheran added: "His cello could be the equivalent of a year's income in his country."

Mr Backus joked: "My cello is rather a plump little lady and too wide to fit in a standard seat."

The principal cellist with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, he is much travelled, having been one of the principal performers at the Baltic Music Festival earlier this year.

He will be accompanied at the concert on July 10 at the Sir William Turner's Almshouses, by pianist Marija Dzenkauskaite.