A SPRING series of lunchtime concerts is now under way at St Andrew and St George United Reformed Church on St George's Road, Bolton -- and features accomplished musicians from the town.

The series runs on Thursdays from 12.45pm to 1.30pm. This week there will be a performance by Bolton-born soprano Vanessa Nuttall. Vanessa now freelances as a sound engineer, mostly for BBC radio and television, while also singing semi-professionally. She is a pupil of Bolton mezzo-soprano Helen Francis.

Vanessa will sing from her extensive repertoire, which ranges from light music and modern musicals to opera, lieder and English song. She specialises particularly in church music and has performed in the Long Room and Chapel at Eaton Hall, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Westminster. Forthcoming plans include lunchtime recitals and evening concerts in the Manchester and North Wales areas.

She is also in the process of recording a CD of light and classical music with BBC Radio 2's "Organist Entertains" Nigel Ogden, with whom she regularly performs.

Vanessa will be accompanied by Jacqueline Tinniswood on piano. She has performed concerts by Beethoven, Liszt, Gershwin and Lambert with North-west orchestras including the Bolton Symphony Orchestra. She has worked as an official accompanist for music festivals and has made many recordings.

Next Thursday, February 27, will feature Dr John Ellis on the organ. John is well known around Bolton as, until his recent retirement, he was consultant paediatrician at the Royal Bolton Hospital. John's programme will include music by Mendelssohn, Karg-Elert, Quantz and Whitlock.

Admission to the concerts is £1.50 and light lunches are available from noon.