BOLTON Youth Jazz Orchestra and Smithills School Senior Concert Band are taking part in the music for Youth Regional Festivals at Rochdale this weekend.

They will be among 1,200 young instrumentalists, singers and dancers, aged six to 21, taking part in the festivals -- two of a series of 59 regional festivals.

The festivals are being held in collaboration with The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and with funding from Youth Music.

Countrywide, 43,000 young people will perform in what is being hailed as the world's largest youth music festival.

Many performers will go on to the National Festival of Music for Youth in London and perform at London's South Bank Centre in July.

Finally, 30 groups will be invited to perform at the Music for Youth Schools Prom Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in November.