WORK towards Cradley's Midsummer Musical Marathon is going with a bang.

So much support has been drummed up for the event on June 26 and 27, where 26 hours of music will be performed continuously, that the programme is now full.

Cradley groups performing at the marathon are busy rehearsing.

The orchestra of St James the Great Church - Jimmy's Band - gave audiences a preview in church on Sunday.

Sarah Ashton and a committee of volunteers have organised the summer spectacular to raise funds for the village's church and new school.

"We had a tremendous response with musicians from as far away as Henley on Thames and Scotland signing up to take part," she said, "I really didn't expect the whole 26 hours to be booked up this quickly and we now estimate that several hundred people will come together to make music and generally enjoy themselves."

Mrs Ashton added that singers were still needed to take part in the sing-along Sound of Music and a performance of Mozart's Requiem. Anyone interested should telephone 01886 880650.