TALENTED schoolchildren entertained Bolton as one of the few primary school brass bands.

Pupils of St Matthew's Primary School in Little Lever showed off their musical skills at Bolton Market on Thursday for lunchtime customers.

The students from years four, five and six played a range of Christmas classics, including Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells, met with applause from the crowd.

Jacob Carr, age 11, took on the solo of Walking in the Air from The Snowman.

Jacob is the youngest member of the Bolton Youth Orchestra and his performance on the French horn was a resounding success.

Jacob said "I only knew this morning that I was actually going to be doing it."

He has been playing the instrument for four years and has just completed grade five.

He is looking forward to continuing in secondary school.

Phil Robertson, head of music at St Matthew's, said:

"Some of these children have only been playing a year and a bit, so the quality that they come up with is fab and they really enjoy it.

"All our year four children play a brass instrument for a whole year and we finance that, then we invite them to carry on."

Bolton Music Service's Simon Dunkley holds weekly rehearsals and lessons with the 12-strong band.

He said: "We started learning the Christmas songs about three weeks ago.

Some of them take it to high school, to college and even to university."

Assistant market manager Steven Turney said: "We like it when youngsters come down.

"We do a lot with schools, it's about making sure that everyone feels welcome.

"Any schools and communities involved with markets is great."

The brass band also performed on Thursday to a larger crowd at the Victoria Halls.

They are also making an appearance at Little Lever High School to perform their repertoire.