SPARKLING performances were on display at the city centre music festival with pianists taking centre stage.

On day three of Carlisle and District Music and Drama Festival, at St Cuthbert's Church, virtuosos of all varieties displayed their talents for adjudicator Belinda Mikhail.

Children from across Cumbria gave meticulous performances, on Wednesday, March 11, of ditties that required up to three people at the piano.

One of the stand out performances was the six handed rendition from twins Eleanor and Isobel Grimshaw, who won on the day of their 11th birthday, and Darby Woof, 10, all from Kingmoor Junior School.

Darby said she was "ecstatic", the twins said the were "very pleased".

Winners of the duets, four hands, for the 13 to 18 year old class, were Alexa Crooks, 13, and Gwyneth Melling from Austin Friars and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith respectively.

Gwyneth said the win "has just been amazing".

Alexa said: "It has just been a great experience."

Another winner on the day was Medhini Varma, 14, from the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith, who took the honours for the pianoforte solo test trophy for 13 to 14 year olds.

She said: "I'm very relieved and very happy because I thought I would not win."

Second place was Isabella Briggs, 14, from William Howard School, in Brampton, who said: "I'm really pleased with it because I've been learning for a long time."

Proud mum of Medhini, Kim Varma, from Dalston, said: "It is very nice because they have worked so hard and it seems like she got her reward."

Carlisle and District Music and Drama Festival was established in 1896, it has organised an annual Festival in Carlisle ever since.

The festival is running until Saturday, March 14 and will finish with a gala performance.