Symphony celebrates Yorkshire Day

A 15-minute symphony involving more than 200 musicians has been broadcast to celebrate Yorkshire Day.

Four BBC local radio stations simultaneously aired composer Benjamin Till's work which took five months to produce, at 1100 BST.

The lyrics were written by 98-year-old great grandmother Doreen Brigham, from Harrogate, who said she was "absolutely thrilled" to be chosen.

A BBC Four film about the making of the symphony goes out in the autumn.

The work features musicians from across Yorkshire, including a Sheffield brass band, Columbian drummers from Leeds, the York Minster carillon player and a harpist from Haworth.

"This has been the most difficult, complicated, ambitious project that I have ever done, incredibly hard work but hugely rewarding," said the composer.

He added: "It's been an enormous thrill and a great honour to be able to write a piece of music which brings so many Yorkshire-based musicians from so many different musical traditions together and I really hope I've done the county proud."