FOUR young musicians from Exeter are keen to take part in a summer school at Dartington.

But the cost of the master classes is more than £200 for each of them, so Nadderwater pub the Royal Oak has stepped in to help.

It is asking people to support the coffee morning and tabletop sale that it is holding to fundraise for them on Saturday, February 7.

The four musicians are Sean Flynn, 17, and 16-year-olds Hannah Willson, Ayesha Ichsan and Catherine Wakely. They are all members of Exeter Young Strings.

Rebecca Willson, the chamber music coach for the Young Strings, said: "The course at Dartington is for a week and I have seen children who have gone there improve more in that week than they have done in a whole year — it is amazing.

"Parents have so many things to pay for — this is something that the pupils wanted to work for themselves.

"They have been busking and those who went to the Royal Oak to play at Christmas received the money raised from that."

Tracey Baird, the landlady at the Royal Oak, which is on the Whitestone Road, said: "They came out at Christmas and performed carols and were really popular and it helped give them a bit of confidence.

"They really want to go to this summer school, so we thought that we would help by raising money for them.

"They will be playing at the coffee morning so we will also be passing a collection bucket around."

The coffee morning and tabletop sale — tables are available at £3 each — on February 7 run from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

The youngsters will also be playing at the pub on St Valentine's Night.

Exeter Young Strings was formed eight years ago by Kirsty Hugill.

It is currently looking for funding to allow it to continue to provide free music lessons for pupils in Beacon Heath and Whipton.

If you would like to make a donation, please contact Kirsty on 01392 460444.