Youngsters from the National Youth Brass Band are busy tuning up for their 50th anniversary concert in Bradford.

The band, which played its first concert at St George's Hall, will return to the venue on Saturday.

Band spokesman Philip Biggs said: "The National Youth Band of Great Britain is delighted to be celebrating its 50th birthday back in Bradford, where it all began. This will a most significant concert at St George's Hall, Bradford, and it is hoped that there will be a capacity audience."

The band was started in Bradford in 1952 by Dr Denis Wright and has gone on to perform in many of the country's top venues including the Royal Albert Hall and produced many of the country's leading brass musicians. Every year members gather before the concert to practice their performances at a week-long course.

In 1952, some 96 children met for the first practise at Thornton Grammar School but this year the ensemble have will meet at Woodhouse Grove School, Apperley Bridge.

The band, which has been credited with saving brass band music from extinction at a time when fewer and fewer children were taking up traditional instruments, will perform a selection of brass favourites at Saturday's concert. They will also perform music written by founder Dr Wright and its current artistic director Elgar Howarth.

Tickets for the show are priced from £6 and are available from St George's Hall box office on (01274) 752000. Steven Haynes and Jenny Tinkler are pictured taking a break from rehearsals for the concert.