The magic of opera will be brought to 30 youngsters with hearing difficulties thanks to Harry Ramsden's, the world famous Guiseley-based fish and chip shop chain.

The Guiseley restaurant's marketing manager Bob Acrey is due to hand over a giant £5,000 cheque to youngsters from Allerton Grange School, Leeds, and members of Opera North on January 6.

The money - awarded to Ramsden's from the Government's Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts Award scheme in recognition of its sponsorship of Opera North - will fund a three-day project at the school.

Spearheaded by Opera North, which has staged several 'opera and chips' events at the Guiseley restaurant, the project will culminate in a special shared performance of Carmen at the school.

Mr Acrey said: "One of the things that attracted us when we looked at introducing opera into the restaurant is it's such a multi-faceted art form.

"At its most basic it's an aural experience but it's also a visual and emotional art form."

l Monthly Monday night Opera and Chips events are being staged by Opera North at Harry Ramsden's at Guiseley starting on January 18.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.