SAXOPHONIST and music teacher Mick Allport knows first hand how being part of a musical group can help keep youngsters out of trouble.

As a police detective for 13 years, he said it was rare that he had to deal with young people who were part of a social group like an orchestra or band.

Now he is calling on Wiltshire schools to get involved with providing subsidised music lessons to disadvantaged children.

For the last two years Mr Allport and Shirley Bassey’s former musical director, Colin Green, have been working on OnTrack, an organisation which provides instruments and lessons to youngsters who would not otherwise be able to afford them.

OnTrack has already built links with the Quilley School in Hampshire and is now looking to do the same in Wiltshire.

Mr Allport, who lives at Barnfield in Marlborough, said: “We want to work in schools that are perhaps in deprived areas where there is a low music uptake but we’ve got to have the support of the headteacher.

“I was a detective with Thames Valley Police for 13 years and it was very rare that I had to deal with people who were part of a social group.

“If we can provide music lessons during school holidays then it is giving these young people something to do so they are staying out of trouble.

“I read the papers now and I see the grandchildren of people I arrested 30 years ago committing crimes, it’s almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“I only have to look at [my daughter] Sarah to see what a difference music can make. When she was at St John’s she was failing, she had low self-esteem and she was bullied and music became an escape for her. Now she is at the Chetham’s Music School and is in their top five performers.”

The musical duo has just submitted OnTrack for charitable status and is now organising fundraising events to get the project moving.

On December 5 OnTrack will host a fundraising concert at St Peter’s Church, Marlborough, featuring music from local singers Nina Boyer, David Dudley and The Big Band.

The concert starts at 7pm and entry is free with a retiring collection for OnTrack.

If you would like your school to get involved with OnTrack email mickallport516@googlemail.com