A PROGRAMME of music concerts in the borough is being supported this year by leading film critic and television presenter Jonathan Ross.

The Hampstead Garden Suburb resident will be introducing an evening of film music next Wednesday as part of the annual Proms at St Jude's event.

The concert of ‘music from the silver screen’, will be given by the BBC Elstree Concert Band.

The nine-day midsummer music festival will offer a range of performances from classical to jazz artists, starting on Saturday afternoon.

International artists alongside rising young professionals will be featured throughout the event, which will be held at the Church of St Jude-on-the-Hill, a venue heralded for its fine acoustics and considered architect Edwin Lutyens' “finest church”.

There will be free lunchtime concerts every day for all ages, as well as the evening performances. A series of guided Heritage Walks will take place around Hampstead Garden Suburb during the proms.

Organisers will be broadcasting the music from the concerts each weekend, (19/20 and 26/27) and on the 24th (Sir Willard White) on to Central Square, NW11 7AH, so families can enjoy the music free of charge.

The festival, which is put together by a committee of volunteers and is now in its 18th year, will run until June 27.

Any surplus money raised will to charity, with 75 per cent going to Toynbee Hall, and 25 per cent to the North London Hospice.

The telephone box office is now open 2pm-6pm, Mon – Sat, on 020 8458 8798. For more information, visit www.promsatstjudes.org.uk