TALENTED school pupils are hitting the high notes as they prepare to perform at the 95th Inverclyde Music Festival.

Festival president Isabel Lind visited Inverkip Primary to watch the school choir rehearse ahead of the annual event at Greenock Town Hall, which officially begins on Monday.

Pupil Carly Wilson, who is preparing to sing with the choir and will also take part in the solo singing competition, says she can't wait to perform.

The 11-year-old, P7 pupil, said: "I feel really happy to be performing at the festival and I want to enjoy myself.

"I hope that my school does it's best.

"I've done the festival for two years now.

"When I was in P5, it was nerve racking because I had never done anything like that.

"But now I have built my confidence up."

The pupils at Inverkip have been working hard under the expert direction of their music coach Elysia Wilson.

Mhairi Crossan, depute head, believes the festival is a great opportunity for the children.

She said: "We are really pleased to be participating in the festival and we're very proud of all the children who have been working really hard with Mrs Wilson.

"It's a really valuable experience for the children to take part in the expressive arts."

Mrs Lind says this year's festival is more exciting than ever before with the launch of a new competition 'Sing with a Partner'.

She said: "It was a suggestion from one of the adjudicators and has really taken off.

"We have 42 different pairs who have entered the competition, which is terrific.

"This will give the children confidence."

Isabel says the festival remains firmly at the heart of the Inverclyde community over 100 years since it was launched way back in 1914.

She said: "In five years time, in 2025, it will be the 100th festival and I think it's tremendous that something like this is still going on."

Mrs Lind has thanked Lynsey Currie from Thistle Theatre, who is also a member of the committee, for her help in organising online sponsorship for this year's competition.

The build-up begins tomorrow morning at 9.30am in Greenock Town Hall, when the children will take part in a 'Singing Games Spectacular' event.

Following this, the two week event will officially begin on Monday at 9.30am and run until Saturday February 1.