A GROUP of musical Hampshire youngsters are in for the trip of a lifetime this summer with a two-week tour of China.

Southampton Youth Brass Band will be playing in the Chinese capital, Beijing, and Southampton's "sister city" of Qingdao between July 17 and 30 - but they are still looking for vital sponsorship to help them fund the trip.

The ambitious tour - the biggest undertaken by the band to date - will cost more than £70,000.

The band have raised most of the money through their regular concert performances and pledges of sponsorship, but another £6,000 is still needed.

The band, established in 1969, are used to playing abroad and have entertained audiences everywhere from Canada to the Czech Republic.

The trip to China came about following a previous visit by Southampton Youth Orchestra.

"We will be spending a week in Qingdao, one of the largest container ports in China, and a week in Beijing. It's the most expensive tour the band has undertaken," said conductor Ian Smith.

"Quite a lot of links are being created between Qingdao and Southampton.

"A number of students from Qingdao attend our sixth-form colleges."

The band, whose members range in age from 12 to 19, can be seen playing joint concerts with The Band of the Royal Marines School of Music, Portsmouth, at Thornden Hall, Chandler's Ford, on Thursday, June 10, and with Southampton Youth Training Band and Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia at the same venue on Saturday, June 26.

For tickets and information call Jan Ward on 023 8026 5852 or Ian Smith on 023 8083 3635.

If you are interested in helping to sponsor the band's tour, or helping out in any other way, call Ian Smith.