YOUNG musicians in Hartlepool are being given cash hand-outs to help them get closer to their dreams.

Every year, musicians aged 15 to 25 living in the town can apply for a Preston Simpson Scholarship of Music grant.

One budding musician to benefit this year is Philip Nicholson, 18, who gets £200. He said: "It helps towards buying my music and paying for fees for my music lessons. Hopefully, when I go to university I will be able to get into the university orchestra."

Gareth Proctor, a 20-year-old former Hartlepool Sixth Form student, was also handed £500 to help him with his degree in classical guitar at Birmingham.

Gareth, who has played the guitar for ten years, said: "It helps me pay for my sheet music and sets of strings. I get through a set every two or three weeks and they are quite expensive, so this is a big help."

Anyone interested in applying for a grant should contact Pat Wilson at Hartlepool Borough Council on (01429) 523010.