CRAVEN'S cultural centre, Skipton Town Hall is lacking a piano, but not for much longer, it is hoped - although instead of a 'baby grand', a digital alternative is being suggested.

Council underspends - where money has been allocated but not used - could be used to buy a digital stage piano for the concert hall, heard the meeting of Craven District Council.

Councillor Chris Moorby, who sings with community choir Voices of Craven, told the meeting while preparing for a performance in the town hall on June 4, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend, the choir discovered a problem.

"We discovered there was not a piano in the hall, even though it does say 'concert hall' at the entrance, and it was going to cost us £720 to get to get one in. Only one company in Leeds would do it, because there is no storage facility, so it would have to come out on the Saturday night," he said.

Instead, the choir persevered and had arranged for a digital stage piano which he said linked to the town hall's PA system produced an 'absolutely fantastic sound', he said.

Cllr Moorby said the recent restoration and transformation of the town hall had been a triumph for both district council officers and councillors, and was now a wonderful facility for the people of Craven. But, there were many not for profit groups, like Voices of Craven, that could not afford to pay for their own piano to be brought in for performances and as a result, were not able to use the concert hall.

Cllr Moorby said he would like to see his fellow councillors contribute their ward member grants to buying a digital stage piano, which he said would cost between £2,500 and £3,500.

"Unfortunately, the town hall does not have the storage for a baby grand, which would be ideal, but I would like to suggest that we look into getting a digital piano," he said.

But chief executive Paul Shevlin suggested details of department underspends would be coming to June's policy meeting, and using that could be a better option, leaving member grants to be used in the wards as intended.

Voices of Craven 's Summer Jubilee Concert on Saturday, June 4 will feature Handel Zadok the Priest, Hallelujah Chorus, Holst I Vow to Thee My Country and more. It will be directed by Duncan Lloyd with Sarah Fox and The Vine Quartet. Tickets from the town hall.