LOCAL headteacher Brian Beresford has turned his hand to a new skill - writing school musicals.

Mr Beresford, who lives in Skipton, wrote his first musical play, Samson Power, in 2004 as a performance project for youngsters at Whalley CE Primary School, where he is headteacher.

"I have always loved writing and composing music," said 52-year-old Mr Beresford, of Moorview Way.

Samson Power proved such a huge success that Mr Beresford decided to publish it so other youngsters could enjoy the performance experience.

The musical has 12 songs which tell the Biblical story of Samson in a bright, imaginative and up-to-date way.

In it, Samson and Delilah are joined by strongmen from different eras including Superman and top boxer Lennox Lewis, and an inept but menacing Philistine army.

"Composition has always played a big part in my life," Mr Beresford explained.

"I wrote my first songs before my age was measured in double figures and have added many more compositions to my tally since then."

He said he finally decided to publish his works after many years of persuasion by the parents of children who had enjoyed performing his pieces.

"I have finally got on with doing just that," he added.

Now he and his wife, Claire, have set up their own music publishing company, One More Time.

"I hope that children at other schools will have a great time performing my works," he told the Herald.

Samson Power has already received rave reviews. One teacher from Kent described it as the next "Joseph". "Musically, Samson is in a different league," she added.

It seems that Mr Beresford was always destined to be a musician - his relatives have been contributing to the Yorkshire Dales music scene for two centuries.

A former pupil of Settle High School, he attributes some of his musical success to Michael Ashcroft who taught him keyboard performance and composition.

"I play piano, organ and guitar and have been known to have a go at other instruments too," said Mr Beresford who has a degree in education and music from St Martin's College, Lancaster.

He started his teaching career at Carleton Endowed School and has taught at four other schools in North Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The son of a Dales farmer, Mr Beresford has always lived in Craven, the past 16 years in Skipton, and he and his wife have two children, Robert, 11, and eight-year-old Anna, who both attend Bradley Primary School.

* Snippets of songs from "Samson Power" can be heard by visiting the couple's website www.onemoretime.biz. It can also be seen and/or purchased from the Cornerstone Bookshop at 17 Newmarket Street, Skipton.