GREENOCK Town Hall burst into life with music and singing as young performers from across the area came together to kick off this year's Inverclyde Music Festival.

The popular festival runs until Saturday 2 February, and its first day was a showcase for the singing talents of Inverclyde's primary school children, as they participated in the singing games and choir performances.

Isabel Lind, head teacher of Aileymill Primary School, is in her third year as President of the Inverclyde Music Festival Association and excited at the beginning of another year.

Mrs Lind said: "I'm very much looking forward to this year's festival, as I always do.

"The children have given some great performances, I'm very proud of them all.

"It's incredible that this festival runs for a fortnight; the volunteers are almost living here for two weeks as it goes on.

"We've sessions in the morning, afternoon and evening with some people being here for all three; so it can be a very long day.

"I enjoy all the classes, it's great to have such a full range of different classes for the people of Inverclyde to come along and see.

"The variety of things that are on is fantastic; there are singing games, solo singing and even samba bands, plus many others.

"There's such a full range of things on for people to come and watch."

Mrs Lind believes that the festival is a perfect platform to highlight the enjoyment and togetherness that defines the competition.

She said: "The slogan for the festival is 'Inverclyde's Platform for Performance' and that's a very appropriate tag as this festival gives so many people of all ages the opportunity to perform.

"We're famed for having fun here, it is a serious competition but there is a definite emphasis on enjoying yourself.

"Friendship is also a big theme - Inverclyde is a very friendly place and I have many friends whom I only know because of this festival.

"I recently heard a story about a number of secondary school teachers who will be singing who have met with teachers from another school to help each other with practising - it just shows how this festival brings people together."

Planning out the two weeks of performances is a huge undertaking for the committee and Mrs Lind says that it can turn into a full-time job at some points.

The cost of running the festival this year has also risen to almost �25,000.

She said: "The preparation takes all year and we have 40 members on the committee.

"At its busiest, organising the festival can be like a nine to five job, there is so much to do.

"Our secretary doesn't have a single week out of the year where she isn't dealing with something regarding organising it.

"It is costing nearly �25,000 this year to run the event, with all our staff as volunteers sacrificing their own time to make it the success it is.

"We don't get paid, but our prize is to get hear these wonderful performances and be a part of this festival."

See today's Telegraph for our special souvenir pullout