Education officers from London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra were in Corby this week to help youngsters learn about their town's heritage through music, dance, singing and acting.

The youngsters were all performers from existing organisations and projects in the borough such as Corby Amateur Theatrical Society, the Shape project and other school groups.

Rebecca Willows, community and education officer with the Royal Philharmonic, said: "We have been running creative music workshops but around the idea of Corby – what it's like to live here and its heritage.

"They have been a creating piece of music. We have had the Irish heritage and Scottish heritage with the Highland dancers.

"They started from scratch and had only two days to rehearse before performing it to friends and family and the leader of the council.

"They have all really enjoyed it."

The project was done in partnership between Corby Council, Northamptonshire County Council, Sing Up and Corby-based Big About Music.

Sing Up is a Government-funded national singing programme which attempts to make sure that singing is at the heart of every child's life.

Richard Walker-Glen, Sing Up organiser for Northamptonshire and Rutland, said: "We have had boys as well as girls singing. The Willows staff and volunteers have been superb."

Kingswood School pupil Hannah Lawson, 14, from the Lloyds estate, performs with Corby Amateur Theatrical Society and was involved in writing songs for the performance.

She said: "There is a group of about six who have been writing a song about the community in Corby – the community as a family in the town as a whole.

"I have really enjoyed writing my own music."

The Royal Philharmonic was founded in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham. In 1993 it established a community and education department and has delivered hundreds of projects across the country.