The church towers and walls of York will tonight echo to the sound of bells and brass in a special musical celebration.

Spanish composer Llorenc Barber has created a specially commissioned piece for what has been called "the Millennium year's most unusual event".

The York Millennium Symphony of Bells and Brass, which starts at 7pm, has as its venue anywhere within the city walls, and, as its title suggests, involves all working bells within the city walls as well as three brass bands.

They are the Rowntree Band, the Railway Institute Golden Rail Band, and the Ebor Brass Band, whose players have selected various strategic locations around the city - including church towers, out of the windows of the Mansion House and above Caf Uno - so that music lovers can follow the evening's sounds on a tour within the walls.

The whole event is due to start with three loud explosions, and finish "in a blaze of colour and sound" at 8.30pm.