A CALL has gone out to businesses to support efforts to revive the band-playing tradition that once flourished in a former railway town.

Staff at Sunnydale School, in Shildon, are leading what they hope will be a community-wide effort to bring on a new generation of brass and woodwind players.

The Music Maker project will provide opportunities for up to 35 youngsters from Sunnydale and nearby primary schools, aged between ten and 16-years, to play in an ensemble.

The youngsters will be able to borrow instruments, but first funds need to be raised to build up a pool of instruments.

Sunnydale is earmarking some of its own funds towards the cost and a bid is to be made for Lottery money to meet the project's running costs.

Deputy headteacher John Sewell said they needed sponsors to make the scheme a success and a genuine community effort.

"The cost of providing just 20 instruments, the minimum number required for a viable band, would be £6,000 and we would be hoping to provide more than that.

"Ideally, we would like sponsors to come up with offers totalling £4,000 towards the cost of purchasing instruments."

School head of music, Tony Taylor, said: "Although there is a strong cultural tradition of band music in Shildon, opportunities for youngsters to play together have for some time been limited.

"Many people find it difficult to travel to perform with ensembles further afield and a lot of parents cannot afford the tuition and instrument hire costs that would enable youngsters to learn how to play through the education authority's music service.

"We think the music maker scheme will fill a cultural void in the community if the money can be found."

Anyone prepared to become a sponsor for the band is asked to contact Mr Sewell at Sunnydale School on (01388) 772526.