ORGAN grinders playing a wide variety of tunes brought a traditional sound of music to life in a Basingstoke museum.

The British Organ Grinders' Association held its spring gathering in Milestones museum, at Basingstoke Leisure Park, providing a different sort of entertainment for visitors there.

The grinders, who brought a total of 38 organs with them, were at the museum from April 29 until Sunday, May 7, entertaining visitors with tunes ranging from orchestral pieces to Andrew Lloyd Webber hits.

Eric Dilks, who organised the event for the British Organ Grinders' Association, travelled from Leicestershire to take part in the event.

He said: "Everybody has been fantastic and really supportive. Milestones was a venue suggested for our gathering by one of the members.

"It has been a great venue, providing us with somewhere dry to entertain the public, and we have been really pleased with the number of people who have come along to see our shows.

"The museum has already asked us to come back, and while we will be holding our next spring gathering elsewhere, we do intend to return here for a long weekend at some point in 2007."

First published: Monday, May 8, 2006