Valley Parade football stadium is expected to be filled with up to 13,000 schoolchildren for a music and dance spectacular at the start of next summer.

Organisers at the music and arts service of school support services firm Education Bradford believe it will be one of the biggest music events of its kind next year.

They are encouraging the district’s schools to sign up to take part in the show by the end of January.

Children’s television personality Barney Harwood, who has become a presenter on long-running BBC programme Blue Peter, has been lined up to be the MC when young people come together at the home of Bradford City on Wednesday, May 25.

Tony Johnson, head of Education Bradford’s music and arts service, said: “Bradford has never seen anything like this event before and we are keen for schools to sign up in time so they don’t miss out.”

Mr Johnson and his team are working with London-based orchestra, the Southbank Sinfonia, and with young musicians and singers at the district’s schools on a programme of songs, music and dance for the event.

Pupils have had the opportunity to take part in a series of events supported by the orchestra, which is made up of young, promising British musicians, as well as the National Media Museum in a partnership with Education Bradford which was established earlier this year.

Mr Johnson said: “We have been working with the Southbank Sinfonia on other projects and are delighted to be partners with them on an event of this scale. It will showcase the talent of thousands of Key Stage 2 children who have had first access to music making on a scale never before seen in the Bradford district.”