PARENTS who set up their very own youth orchestra after their children's beloved music centre was threatened with closure have been given a huge boost in the form of two major grants.

The newly-created Thornbury Area Music Trust (TAMT) has received financial help from both Magnox and the Quartet Foundation, just two months after its inception, and is already on its way to becoming one of the largest centres in the region.

The group was set up in July in response to South Gloucestershire CouncilÕs decision to centralise all its groups and move ThornburyÕs band from its base at Marlwood School in Alveston to Little Stoke Primary School in September.

The parents of the devastated players initially begged district bosses to keep the Marlwood group up and running until December. But when their pleas fell on deaf ears they opted to take the matter in their own hands and with the support of the centreÕs teachers formed their own trust.

One of the trustees, Beth Turvey, whose four children attended Thornbury Music Centre, said: "Everyone at the Thornbury Area Music Trust is delighted to receive two significant grants from the Quartet Foundation and Magnox, which will enable us to buy all the equipment we need for the orchestra and will help with the many upfront expenses."

More than 70 of the former Thornbury Music CentreÕs 80 members have already signed up to the new orchestra.

Peter Bailey, the trust's treasurer and father of players Ella and James, added: "We are absolutely thrilled. From the initial news, we have covered a lot of ground. As a parent it's fantastic."

A Magnox spokesman said: "Oldbury Site is pleased to support the Thornbury Area Music Trust. By contributing to the set up costs, we know that young people and existing musicians in the area can be offered a range of musical experiences to build up their confidence.

"Magnox is committed to providing and enabling support for the communities in which it operates and we look forward to seeing the results from such a positive venture as this."

Keen to create a tailor-made programme of classes for its pupils and to propel the trust to a leading position in the region, its teachers have already designed more advanced sessions for their most promising musicians - something which was never possible before under the control of South Gloucestershire Council.

Mrs Turvey, 44, from Tytherington, added: "When we undertook our recent consultation, many of the older children asked if they could have an additional programme of more advanced music, so the music teachers have designed the Advanced Musical Studies Programme, which is for players of grade five standard and above."

Classes will take place every Saturday morning between 9.30am and 12pm, starting on September 15.

For more information about the advanced musical studies programme and the TAMT visit www.thornbury-music.org