A THREE-day music event is taking over the centre of Bishop Auckland and the grounds of the Bishop of Durham’s home Auckland Castle this week.

Organisers of an annual Proms in the Park concert have teamed up with BRASS: Durham International Festival to offer music to appeal to all tastes.

Councillor Brian Myers, the chairman of Durham County Council, is hosting a civic reception and dinner at the Proms on Friday.

He said: "The Proms have been an outstanding success since they started six years ago drawing huge crowds to the park.

"Teaming up with BRASS is an exciting new development for the Proms which kicks off three days of music for all the family.

"If the weather behaves itself, we are in for a spectacular evening of music in a fantastic setting."

The programme features The Mowbray Orchestra, a selection of opera excerpts by mezzo-soprano Maggie McDonald, film scores and regular Proms favourites.

Conducted by Xenophon Kelsey, the Mowbray Orchestra frequently performs at Ripley Castle in North Yorkshire, tours throughout the UK and Ireland and accompanies choirs and choral societies in the region.

Tickets are £12, £8 for concessions £25 for a family of two adults and two children under 16.

Doors open at 5.30pm and the music starts at 7.30pm.

Proms-goers are advised to wear suitable outdoor clothing and take along a chair, blanket and a picnic if necessary.

Street bands are entertaining shoppers in Bishop Auckland Town Centre for a Streets of Brass Event from 11am the following day.

On Sunday a Big Bish Bash family event opens at Auckland Castle grounds at 3.30pm.

The entertainment includes storytelling, performances by local ensembles and walkabout entertainment by Visitation Productions and Bedlam Oz.

The BRASS programme starts at 6pm and features Hypnotic Brass Ensemble from Chicago and the Hot 8 Brass Band from New Orleans which played Glastonbury.

Tickets for the Big Bish Bash on July 19 are £5 and free for under-12s.

All tickets are available from Bishop Auckland Town Hall on 01388-602610.