MIRANDA Richardson, star of the new Harry Potter film and perhaps best known for her TV portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in the hit series Blackadder is to visit Hereford.

The actress - who won an Evening Standard Best Actress award for her portrayal of Ruth Ellis in the film Dance with a Stranger - is to narrate at a performance of Peter and the Wolf at a children's organ prom in Hereford Cathedral on Saturday, October 8, at 2.30pm.

Miranda will join the cathedral's assistant organist, Peter Dyke, in a special performance of Prokofiev's work, arranged for the organ.

The performance will include a live video link, with big screen projection and the hour-long presentation will include a talk from organist and director of music at the cathedral Geraint Bowen explaining how such a vast and complicated instrument works.

"This is a great way of introducing the children to the diversity of orchestral colour and sound that the instrument can produce," Geraint said.

"They love listening for the highest notes - just a squeak really - while the lowest notes are felt, rather than heard, through the floor and their seats."

The Saturday performance will follow a week-long series of school concerts, sponsored by Hereford City Council, presenting a similar programme to over 1,350 children from schools throughout the diocese.

Children and students are invited free to the performance on October 8, adults can purchase tickets through the cathedral shop, the HCPT on 01432 374261 and on the door on the day.