ACTS from three continents are Durham bound to take part in a music festival this summer.

The Durham Brass festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary and has acts lined up from across the world.

Highlights of this year’s festival, which takes place in July, include Hot 8 Brass Band, who are travelling from New Orleans, the launch of the Durham Hymns at Durham Cathedral and a county-wide Party in the Park tour which will see New York Brass Band and Oompah Brass go head to head in a battle of the bands, finishing at Wharton Park on July 16.

Hot 8 Brass, who were nominated for a Grammy in 2013, have faced an unimaginable series of trials, from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, to the separate deaths of five of their band members, and the horror of their trumpeter losing his legs in a car crash.

Cllr Neil Foster, the cabinet member for economic regeneration, arts and culture at Durham County Council, which runs the event, said: “Once again Brass includes the very best of a broad range of brass music from around the world.

“Building on the success of previous years, we have an absolutely cracking line-up of international and local musicians.

"And once again Brass will show off our stunning city and county, with performances everywhere from Gala Theatre and the Cathedral to street corners and the magnificent, newly refurbished Wharton Park.

“I hope people will come from near and far to join together in enjoying the Brass buzz.”

For further information about the festival visit www.brassfestival.co.uk.