COLLEGE musicians are appealing for help in adding another string to their bow - or even another bow.

Students at Northallerton College are looking for new orchestral and band instruments to build on their success in reaching the national finals of the Music for Youth Festival in London earlier this year.

The college's head of music, Garry Firth, said: "Our funds are strictly limited and new musical instruments are hugely expensive. A new tuba would cost about £4,000 and a bass clarinet about £2,000.

"We are looking for all kinds of orchestral or band instruments. If we get some of the basic ones, that will enable us to spend what funds we have on the dearer ones we specially need."

Mr Firth urged people who used to play instruments, but no longer wanted them, to dust them down.

Any instruments which the college does not need would be passed on to other schools.

Mr Firth said: "We have managed to achieve high standards by hard work, dedication and borrowing instruments from other schools. But when we were competing with other bands in London our students realised that there were gaps in the range of instruments we have.

"They played brilliantly, but it's like competing in the Olympics in pumps against athletes wearing proper running shoes.