Vicar Cherry Vann is used to creating harmony in the community and now she is to bring her own musical melody to parishoners.

Before putting on her dog collar for the first time 25 years ago, Miss Vann, who is the vicar at St John the Evangelist church, Farnworth, trained as a concert pianist at London's prestigious Royal College of Music.

She started playing the piano as a child, under the tuition of her organist and composer father, Maurice Vann.

She attended concerts and recitals while growing up in Leicester, and trained for a concert career in the 1970s.

Miss Vann, aged 48, will give her first musical address to a congregation on Saturday when she will conduct the Bolton Chamber Orchestra.

The orchestra will perform a piece written by her father, at a concert at St Bartholomew's Church, Westhoughton.

She said: "Music has always been my passion. But it took a back seat for a while when I entered the clergy but it will be a huge honour to take my father's work public."

Miss Vann has conducted the orchestra for around ten years. Her parents, Maurice, aged 88, and Jean, aged 78, will be guests of honour on Saturday for the recital of the 15-minute piece.

Miss Vann said: "My father suffers from Parkinson's Disease so there will be a real poignancy to him being there. He has only ever heard it in his head - it will be wonderful for him to listen to the first performance of the piece. The orchestra has really taken to it."

The concert takes place at St Bartholomew's church, in Church Street, Westhoughton at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6 and are available on the door.