ROLLING countryside surrounding a Roman Catholic seminary provides an impressive setting for an evening of music and song.

The Roman Catholic overseas aid charity Cafod is staging a Proms in the Park event at Ushaw College, near Durham, on Saturday, July 5.

Bede Wind Philharmonic, comprising accomplished musicians from the North-East, will provide the music with a solo singing performance by soprano Ruth Lackenby. Ruth, from Gateshead, who has sung with the Northern Symphonia, paid a visit with members of the orchestra this week to admire the setting of the Proms night celebration, which dates back almost 200 years as a training college for the priesthood.

Concert-goers are invited to bring picnics, wine and candles, while space can also be booked in advance for gazebos. Pre-booked tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children up to 16-years-old, or £12 and £6 on the night, although there are savings for parties of ten adults.

There is also free car parking and limited bed and breakfast accommodation on a first come, first served basis.

The gates open at 6.30pm with the concert scheduled to start at around 8pm. Further details are available from Kevin Haigh, of Cafod, on (0191) 410 2779.

All proceeds go towards regional funds for Cafod.