HUNDREDS of youngsters will bring the magic of Christmas to venues across County Durham with a series of concerts starting tonight.

Children aged nine to 18 will be performing in shows by Durham County Council's Music Support Service, based in Bishop Auckland.

The festivities get under way tonight when Chester-le-Street District Orchestra, Chester-le-Street Wind Group and Chester-le-Street Guitar Group perform at the town's Hermitage School, at 7.15pm.

There are three concerts on Monday. Teesdale District Wind Band plays at Staindrop School, at 4.30pm, Durham District Wind Band plays at Framwellgate School, near Durham, also at 4.30pm, and Wear Valley District Wind Band plays at Crook Primary School, at 6pm.

Tuesday sees Easington District Orchestra, Guitar Group and Wind Band perform at Thornley Community Centre, at 7pm.

Next Thursday, Sedgefield District Wind Band plays at Sedgefield Primary School, at 4.45pm, while Sedgefield First Orchestra and Sedgefield District Orchestra performs at Greenfield Community and Arts College, in Newton Aycliffe, at 5pm.

The North Regional Wind Band will play at Framwellgate School, at 11.30am on Saturday, December 10, and the County Youth Orchestra and County Wind Band will be at Spennymoor Comprehensive School at 2pm the same day.

On Wednesday, December 14, Darlington First Orchestra, Darlington District Orchestra, the South Regional Orchestra and the Darlington Youth Choir will be performing at Carmel RC Technology College, in Darlington, at 7pm.

Fishburn Brass Band will be playing at Elvet Methodist Church, in Durham, at 7.30pm on Thursday, December 15, followed on Monday, December 19, the County Youth Choir and County Youth Orchestra will perform at the same venue.

The season's programme concludes on January 4 when the County Youth Choir will perform at the North of England Education Conference at The Sage Gateshead.

There will be a retiring collection after the concerts, except for those featuring the county youth orchestra, county wind band and county youth choir, when tickets will cost from £1 to £4 at the door.