Youngsters from Smithills school fresh from a three week tour of New Zealand, have been asked to visit the entertainment capital of the world -- by special invitation.

And the city that welcomed Sinatra and Elvis wants to hear the 56 strong award-winning Smithills School senior brass band.

The musicians have just returned from a tour of New Zealand's North Island where they were based in three cities, Auckland, Rotorua and Tauranga .

Chris Wormald, the musical director, said they were introduced to Sir Edward Schwindell, the High Commissioner of Nevada, who was so pleased with the performance of the band that he travelled five hours to catch them in concert the following night, and asked them to tour Las Vegas next summer.

"So we are seriously thinking about the offer," said Mr Wormald.

The band also made a huge impression on the New Zealanders who christened them "Toanga", a Maori word meaning "Pearls without Price".

"They students had a fantastic time and they were so well behaved. They are Bolton's best ambassadors."

The young people, average age 15, also enjoyed jet boating, kayaking, water skiing, luge and extreme mountain cable car rides in their free time.

But Mr Wormald told how the trip was almost called off after the Iraq war started. "The headmaster was in daily touch with the Foreign Office and we called a meeting of parents and decided to go ahead. We flew very near to Iraq on the way," he said.

There was another scare when the SARS bug broke out in the Far East.

"We thought we may end up stranded there.

"We spent 12 hours in Singapore going out to New Zealand and a two hour stop over on the way back.

"It is one of the biggest airports in the world yet there were only a few people around, all wearing masks. It was like a science fiction film.

"We were advised not to use public pay phones or play on the video games machines where the germs might be.

"But the youngsters were brilliant, they did as they were told and we are all home safe and well."