A community concert band has been granted charitable status.

The Bewdley Concert Band, founded in 2010 by Valerie Blount (now Worton) and Ian Worton, who saw a need for a community wind band in Bewdley.

Mrs Worton was the leader of music at Bewdley Primary School at the time, while Mr Worton was an experienced musical director.

Read more: Wyre Forest, Redditch and Bromsgrove students take on safety challenge

The pair viewed setting up the band as a good chance to establish a wind band in the area.

Band co-founder and trustee, Mrs Worton, said: "The band was a success from the start and numbers soon grew.

"After a while we decided to create the Academy band to cater for the inexperienced players."

Under Mr Worton's guidance as the musical director the band has delivered numerous performances in the area, most notably at The Symphony Hall in Birmingham in April 2015.

He said: "My philosophy is that music should be fun and enjoyable.

"We encourage anyone who can read music and play a wind instrument to come and have a go."

The band has a number of concerts set for the summer months at locations such as Jubilee Gardens in Bewdley, Brintons Park in Kidderminster and Riverside Meadows in Stourport.

The new charitable status is expected to secure the band's future, allowing it to grow and plan for a new community engagement programme in the area.

Band trustee and chairwoman Carol Woolley said: "I’m delighted that we have now obtained charitable status as it enables the band to develop along new paths to encourage the enjoyment and playing of music in our wider community."

Glenn McWilliams, who recently joined the band, said: "The band is very inclusive, and everyone is very welcoming.

"Playing in a Concert Band offers me a wide variety of benefits that extend beyond the realm of playing music."