DURHAM'S Mayor was so impressed by a talented teenage musician that she booked her for a major charity event.

Coun Mary Hawgood added 17-year-old percussionist Sarah Burn to the bill for the St George's Day Durham Cathedral concert, this Saturday.

Sarah, a music scholarship sixth-form student at Durham School, excels on xylophone and vibraphone.

She plays solo and is a member of both the Reg Vardy and school bands, as well as singing in the school choir.

Coun Hawgood saw her in a concert at the DLI Museum and Art Gallery at Christmas. "I was very impressed and I asked straightaway if I could 'borrow' her for my appeal concert. She is one of the up-and-coming musicians who will be playing at the concert."

The line-up also includes soprano Joanna Burton, a former Choirgirl of the Year, Durham Johnston Wind Band, the Palatine Ensemble, Durham County Youth Choir, the Durham Singers, Framwellgate Moor Band, and organist Chris Totney.

Proceeds will go to Coun Hawgood's chosen charity, St Cuthbert's Hospice, of which she is the founder.

Compere is veteran BBC war correspondent Kate Adie, the hospice patron, who cut her broadcasting teeth working alongside Coun Hawgood on the fledgling Radio Durham.

Both were reporters on the station, a forerunner of BBC local radio stations Newcastle and Cleveland.

The station was based at Park House, which went on to become home of the hospice, in the Marryoaks area of the city.

Saturday's concert, Celebrating St George's Day, starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets, £7.50, are available from Durham Tourist Information Centre, at the Gala Theatre, on (0191) 384 2533, or from the hospice, on (0191) 386 1170.

Gold Standard tickets, including pre-concert reception, parking and a programme, are also available, for £25.