AN extra cash boost from Malvern Town Council will ensure music in Priory Park every week throughout the summer.

The council says it is increasing its grant from £2,500 to £3,000 and the Civic Society has also pledged £150 towards the Bands in the Park series.

This will support a series of 19 concerts, begin this Sunday (May 20) and continue until Sunday, September 23.

Mayor David Williams said the grant represented "splendid value".

"I think its something we can be very proud of," he said.

The concerts have been a summer tradition for a number of years but last year the event fell victim to budget cuts by Malvern Hills District Council.

However, Malvern Hills District Brass Band stepped in to save the day by offering to play for free.

The concerts were very well supported and the town council received 40 letters from members of the public asking for them to be repeated this year.

Adrian White, cornet player and secretary of Malvern Hills District Brass Band, said they were very pleased the concert series was going ahead.

He said: "We started a campaign when we found out that the district council couldn't or wouldn't, for whatever reason, fund the concert last season.

"We're very pleased to see that a lot of school bands from Malvern and Worcester will be taking part.

"It's a great tradition. It's quintessentially English and it gives bands, particularly school bands something to aim for.

"It also increases the public's awareness about what's going on in schools music wise plus a lot of people want to see bands in the park, particularly in that wonderful bandstand which is one of the nicest in the country in our view."

Kicking off the band season on Sunday, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, will be Stourport Brass Band.

Event organiser Derek Wells said he hoped lots of people would turn out support the concerts.

"Then this concert series can go from strength to strength," he said.