YOUNGSTERS at a Wirral Primary have found a perfect way of dispelling that "brassed off with school" feeling – by tickling a tuba and caressing a cornet.

Scholars as young as six to 11 have generated sufficient lung power to form a brass band at Christ the Church Catholic Primary School in Bromborough.

Music co-ordinator Stephanie McKenzie said: "I don't know where they get the puff from, but they could not be more keen.

"We have a 20-strong band – the youngest member is six – and we started last September after the youngsters heard a demonstration from brass band teacher Scott Lloyd, who now conducts the band.

"They liked the sound he made."

The youngsters have now decided they need uniforms for when they take part in Wirral Festival of Music in April.

The band has grown rapidly from an original five members and they tackle a range of brass instruments from cornets and tenor horns to baritones and tubas.

Said Stephanie: "With brass instruments you can make a decent sound fairly quickly – whereas with a violin, for instance, it takes ages to make quality music."

The youngsters rehearse every Monday after school and most of them get in extra practice at lunchtime.

Such is their confidence that they are teaming up with the Royal Buckley Brass Band – a group of experiences brass bandsmen and women – for a special concert in Bromborough at Easter.