WARWICKSHIRE churches will be ringing out with the sounds of special concerts through the summer months.

Audiences can enjoy summer's evenings in some of the county's most beautiful churches, listening to some fine music as part of the Concerts in Warwickshire Churches 2005 series.

The series, organised by the Warwick Arts Society, visits ten rural churches in the county.

The society's director, Richard Phillips, said: "These concerts give Warwick Arts Society an opportunity to offer concerts to promising young artists who need a platform at this stage of their development.

"We also realise we are bringing sometimes the only professional concert of the year to a particular part of the county and not everyone can or is willing to travel."

The first concert in the series takes place tomorrow evening, at the Church of Our Lady in Merevale, near Atherstone. It features the local vocal ensemble Armonico Consort. Called There's Something About Mary, the programme focuses on the musical development which came about at the time of the marriage of Mary to Philip of Spain.

The second half of the concert will be taking a lighter tone, when the singers take a look at madrigals, close-harmony and folk songs from the last 500 years - 'some rather less reverent than the church music earlier on'.

It starts at 7.30pm. Call John Austin for ticket details (01827 712202) or see below.

There is another concert the following evening (Saturday, May 14), this time at St Laurence's church in Bidford. The Choir of St Mary's Church, Warwick, is visiting the village, again at 7.30pm, led by director Katherine Dienes. Pieces by Elgar, Purcell, Tallis, Tippett, Taverner and Britten will be on the programme. Tickets are available from Rev David Hall on 01789 772217 or from Bidford News in High Street or Vine Music in Evesham (or see below).

The series continues with Ensemble Severin at Ilmington on May 20, the Orchestra of the Swan at St George's church in Brailes on June 4 and an evening of music by Handel and his contemporaries in Ullenhall, near Henley, on June 10. The Uccellino Ensemble are in Snitterfield on June 11, the Heath String Quartet is at Over Whiteacre, near Coleshill, on June 17 and the Sacconi String Quartet is at Halford, near Shipston, on June 18. The last couple of concerts see the Quartet for the King of Prussia in Claverdon on June 24 and the Consort of Seaverall Friends at St Nicholas church in Alcester on June 26.

Tickets cost £8 (£6 for senior citizens and unwaged) or £1 for schoolchildren and students. They are available for all the events from the Warwick Arts Society Festival Box Office, Pageant House, 2 Jury Street, Warwick. CV34 4EW. Call 01926 496277 (www.warwickarts.org.uk).