A YOUNG musician from Marske won recognition at an annual competition for the region's most talented music makers at the weekend.

Laura Barber, 16, won her age group category for the orchestral strings section at the ninth Young Musician of the Year competition, organised by the Rotary Clubs of Darlington and Northallerton.

The competition, which took place at Polam Hall School in Darlington, saw youngsters aged between eight and 18 compete in three sections: piano, strings and woodwind or brass.

The overall winner was 16-year-old Laura Bury of Middlesbrough who played the first movement of Rondo Pastorale by Vaughan Williams on the oboe.

Ian Denley, an examiner with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, judged the competition and the prizes were presented by the mayor of Darlington Doris Jones and the chairman of Hambleton District Council Percy Featherstone.

The spokesman for Darlington Rotary Club, Alan Charlton, said: "The standard was very high. There were four finalists who were very close.

"Laura's performance was splendid and the whole event was a wonderful night of young people realising their musical talent."