IF ANYONE is entitled to blow their own trumpet, it is musician Lynsey Hayes.

And now, at the age of 18, the star cornet principal soloist from Smithills School Senior Brass Band has decided to retire.

The teenager, who has spearheaded numerous prize-winning performances, intends to take up a scholarship in America.

Lynsey will give her final performance before standing down as Principal Cornet at a concert at St Thomas's Church, Eskrick Street, Halliwell, on September 23 at 7.30pm.

She arrives at this milestone after eight foreign tours, three Royal Albert Hall performances, 23 Royal Festival Hall appearances, 35 national competitions, a solo compact disc, a Millennium Award, numerous local and national brass band prizes and more than 300 appearances with the variety of Smithills bands, which incorporate Bolton Sixth Form College.

Little more than three years ago, when only 14, Lynsey was assistant principal cornet when Smithills took first prize in the World music Contest in Holland. She then served a two year apprenticeship before becoming the Principal and featured soloist in September 1998.

Her first engagement was to a world wide television audience of millions when Smithills played for the closing of the 1998 Labour Party Conference in Blackpool accompanying the traditional singing of The Red Flag. And it was during the recent tour of America with the Senior Brass Band that Lynsey was offered her scholarship to study at the West Liberty College at the University of West Virginia. The all-expenses paid scholarship begins next September.

Other awards include becoming the youngest recipient to be named in the Brass Band World New Years Honours List, receiving the OBBW, or Officer of the Brass Band World.

Last summer Lynsey performed for the RAF Cranwell Band, staying in both Lincoln and Oxford. As a result the RAF has offered her a full time place which she intends to keep as an option once she has completed her degree in West Virginia.

Lynsey said: "It is quite a wrench for me but I will still remain involved with Smithills bands.

"I have managed to achieve so much with the help of Mr Chris Wormald and I am going to miss playing with the band very much.

"Meeting Prince Charles and performing for the CD were particular personal highlights."