PALM Sunday is normally associated with wicker crosses and pilgrimages by donkey, but a North Yorkshire church will be rolling back the carpet this weekend for a more unusual celebration.

The rafters at St Andrew's Church, in Grinton, will not be echoing to hymns, but jumping to jazz as one of the North's biggest bands opens a festival in Swaledale.

Carole Clegg and Speakeasy take top billing on Sunday, at 10.30am - and the vicar, the Reverend Tim Tunley, is hoping for a packed house.

"We were invited to stage the concert by the organisers and thought it would be a great idea,'' he said.

"The concert doesn't actually replace a service - there is an earlier Eucharist at the same church and a later morning service at nearby Arkengarthdale. We are hoping for a large and eclectic congregation at the gospel concert; there is a great interest in jazz and blues, and Carole Clegg has an international reputation.''

The singer is also hoping to play to a large audience. "The fact this concert takes place in the church at Grinton on Palm Sunday, hopefully, will provide a further chance for people to gather and anticipate the arrival of this most important event in the church calendar,'' she said.

There is no admission charge for the concert, although it is hoped the audience will leave donations.