A concert inspired by a famous BBC radio show will be coming to town later this year.

Ramsbottom Concert Orchestra are holding rehearsals this month ahead of their concert at All Saints Church in Brandlesholme on Thursday, November 14, which is inspired by Desert Island Discs.

The concert, which will also feature the Andantino Singers, will include light classical music favourites from the show. 

For the opening number, they will perform a recently discovered vocal arrangement of the signature tune to Desert Island Discs, By the Sleepy Lagoon.

The original orchestral music used for the programme was written by Eric Coates, who also wrote The Dam Busters March.

American songwriter Jack Lawrence wrote the lyrics for By the Sleepy Lagoon in 1940 with Coates' approval and it became a popular music standard at that time.

The version of this piece used for the concert will combine the original orchestral music used on Desert Island Discs with a new choral arrangement of the 1940 song.

The Ramsbottom Concert Orchestra meet every Thursday and at their last concert had 40 orchestral players but would still like to recruit additional string players.

The Andantino Singers are a friendly mixed choir and meet every two weeks and are looking to recruit more members in all voice parts.

Rehearsals for the singers and the orchestra are held at St Francis House Community Centre on Hebden Drive in Brandlesholme. More information can be found from Barry Sugden on 0161 761 2985.

The orchestra and Andantino Singers are affiliated with the original Ramsbottom Choral Society.