JOHN Lewis Bluewater has awarded a Greenhithe primary school £2,000 to start a steel pan band.

Stone St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, in Hayes Road, will use the cash to buy equipment for the band.

Pupils enjoy performing at a variety of musical events and concerts and their choir sing at the shop every year at Christmas.

Ellie Lockey, music coordinator at the school, said: "This is a brilliant opportunity for the pupils and school’s music department, this support will make a real difference to us.

"We were over the moon when we heard we’d been successful."

John Lewis's Music Matters programme makes donations of between £1,000 and £5,000 to groups which make an outstanding contribution to their community through music.

Managing director at the store, Karen Lord, said: "Music can make such a difference to people’s lives - it really has the power to bring people together in our local community.

"We hope that through Music Matters we can go some way to help people take part in a musical experience that really has an impact."

She added: "Stone St Mary’s Primary school give children the opportunity to enjoy music, from a young age.

"We are thrilled to be able to provide a donation to enable them to start a Pan steel band. We wish them every success and can’t wait for the next concert."