CELEBRITIES Martin Clunes and John Lill are lined up to take part in the new Dorset Chamber Orchestra season, which gets under way on Saturday, October 25, with a concert by Madalina Rusu and Abigail Leigh.

The performance starts at 7.30pm and will include works by Gluck, Mozart and Weber.

The second event is a recital of pieces by Rossini, Elgar and Shostakovich by the violinist and 2000 Young Musician of the Year Guy Johnston.

The concert is on Saturday, December 6, at 7.30pm.

Television star Martin Clunes will be starring as special narrator in a children's concert on Saturday, March 6, at 4pm.

Youngsters will be entertained by Bizet's Children's Games, Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and Ibert's Divertissement.

Finally, on Saturday, May 8, at 7.30pm, world-renowned pianist and chamber orchestra president John Lill will perform Schubert's Unfinished Symphony, Sibelius' En Saga and Tchaikovski's Piano Concerto No1.

All performances are in St Mary's Church, Dorchester. Advance tickets cost from £7 and are available from Harmony Music, The Forum, Trinity Street, Dorchester, or on 01305 260360.