THE son of Houghton Weavers lead singer Tony Berry has hit the right note by winning a place in the National Children's Orchestra.

But, while 12-year-old Tom is delighted by his success, he is unsure about following in his father's footsteps as a professional musician.

The Westhoughton High School pupil is one of two local youngsters picked to play with the orchestra.

"The audition was quite hard but it was exciting," said Tom of Wingates Lane, Westhoughton, who was picked to play for the orchestra along with Samantha Minshall, aged 11. The pair are members of the Bolton Youth Brass Band.

The two friends play a number of instruments but Samantha was accepted to play the tuba and Tom, the trombone.

Unlike Tom, Samantha, of Haweswater Avenue, Astley, has no doubts about her future. She said: "I would like to be a professional musician. That's my dream but if I can't do that, I would be a music teacher."

Samantha, a pupil of Holy Family Primary School, Boothstown, shares her passion for the tuba with her parents and her older brother, Simon, who has been playing with the National Children's Orchestra for a year.

Their first performance with the orchestra will in Birmingham on August 14.