THE hills around Bolton really were alive with the sound of music as "Maria" raced down Rivington Pike, mirroring the most famous scene from the hit musical.

Staff from the Bolton Hospice fundraising department posed as characters from the famous film in a bid to encourage people to go along to their Sound Of Music sing-a-long show. In a mock-up of the opening scene from the 1965 movie starring Julie Andrews, Colleen Kyne-Daly posed as Maria and ran with open arms down Rivington Pike, while Vickie Butcher looked on as a disproving Reverend Mother.

But the people of Bolton can have their own experience of the Sound Of Music when Bolton Hospice holds a special sing-a-long screening of the film at the Albert Halls in May to mark the 15th anniversary of the hospice.

Maria Passarello, events co-ordinator at the hospice, said: "For our 15th anniversary celebrations, we wanted to offer some variety with a touch of novelty for our loyal supporters.

"The Sound Of Music is currently running to rave reviews in London and we at Bolton Hospice are determined to bring a little of that magic to life here in our home town.

"We want the aisles of the Albert Halls to be alive with the sound of local people having a fantastic evening of entertainment whilst singing their hearts out to the old familiar tunes of this timeless show."

And guests are encouraged to get into the spirit of the occasion on May 17 by wearing fancy dress.

They will be sent a free goody back full of props and on the night there will be a vocal warm-up, before the movie is shown, with sing-a-long subtitles, in full technicolour.

Tickets, priced £15, are available from the Albert Halls box office on 01204 334 400 or by emailing info@alberthalls-boltn.co.uk