POPULAR demand has seen a toddlers' music group add a Trowbridge venue to its growing number of centres in the region.

Jo Jingles, which helps babies and toddlers develop through music, already has regular slots in Melksham, Bradford on Avon and Chippenham.

Now it is set to begin a Monday morning session at Paxcroft Mead Community Centre.

The 45-minute classes are split into separate sessions from babies from six months, one to two-year-olds and two to four-year-olds.

Mother-of-two Sally Long joined the Jo Jingles franchise in March 2003 and this is the group's second expansion locally in the last six months.

She said: "The basic aim of a Jo Jingles class is to give babies and toddlers a fun introduction to music through the use of songs, nursery rhymes, musical instruments, movement, sound games and stories. As well as the classes being great fun, experts agree that music is beneficial to many aspects of a child's development.

"Singing, dancing and playing musical instruments encourages children to develop their language skills, improve physical co-ordination, and gain a high level of self-confidence and social skills. There is also growing evidence that music can help at a later stage with subjects as diverse as mathematics, foreign languages and problem solving."

For details contact Sally Long on (01225) 422638.