Full arena crowds have rocked out to their beautiful and infectious sounds.

It is just all in a day’s work for a group of adults with learning disabilities in the Colne Valley, whose xylophone orchestra is winning over the hearts and ears of music lovers.

Called Xylosound, it has brought together 20 talented musicians from around the area, some of whom have been creating musical magic since 1992.

A wave of enchanting sounds greet visitors to hear them practice at their site at The Watershed on Bridge Street in Slaithwaite.

It is made by skilled group members on xylophones and accompanying instruments, such as maracas, tambourines and even a flute.

They are busy practising songs that they later hope to showcase at future events, an element that is key to their group.

The orchestra’s founder and accordion player, Andy Burton, said: “We’re a big family and the orchestra has become such a major part of our lives.

“Everyone gets such a buzz when they perform, it’s very important to what we do here.

“It also allows us to promote the talents of our members and prove that having a learning disability is no barrier to success.

“One of our biggest events was when we played at Sheffield Arena to thousands of people at Mencap’s Gateway Festival.”

Other big bookings have seen them take to stages at football stadiums and regional festivals, while they have also taken over the airwaves on radio stations, including BBC Radio Leeds.

It has been a great success for Andy, who founded the group while working as a workshop musician at different sites in the area.

He said: “I was visiting a lot of centres for people with learning disabilities and realised that there were people with great hidden musical talents.

“I just thought, wouldn’t it be exciting to work with them all together and regularly where we can practice with no other distractions and promote their skills.

“There were 10 musicians to start with and we started using Slaithwaite Community Centre once a week and it grew so well that we made it a whole day event and eventually moved to our current home.

“With the help of Kirklees Council and Friends of Xylosound, money was raised for instruments, rent and tuition fees.”

The musicians use xylophones with removable keys to aid their playing. Andy said: “The beauty of being able to take notes off and put them back on again makes them a lot less confusing to play.”

Other talented instrumentalists include Jen Blackwell, who plays the flute and has been vice-chair of Xylosound for eight years.

Xylosound session at The Watershed, Slaithwaite.

Jen, 33, who has Downs Syndrome, also runs her own dance company, Dance Syndrome, which she said has been greatly helped by playing in the group.

She said: “Playing has really helped me with my rhythm, which then in turn helps me with my dancing.

“My big dream is that we some day get to play with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and at Glastonbury.”

To date they have embarked upon dozens of large-scale live and recorded projects, such as one to commemorate the arrival of the Tour De France last year, which involved local singing groups and Abatimbo Burundi Drummers.

Andy said: “Our current project is called Landmarks, which is an exploration of landmarks within Yorkshire and key events in Xylosound member’s lives.

“It should be completed by May, when we’ll have a performance premiere.

“From there we are planning to tour it around Yorkshire and are now looking for other events in which Xylosound can take part in, including festivals in the region.”

Xylophonist, Marilyn Francis, 46, said: “It helps me reconnect with music back home in Grenada, which I left when I was young.”

And 23 years since their musical journey all began, Andy said there is a good future in store.

“I never thought it would become this successful. The musicians are such a fantastic group and the opportunity has helped them grow in confidence and improve lots of life skills.

“Creative groups like this are often squashed by commercial music and passive activities, so it’s vital that we keep making our own music and share it with each other.”

Xylosound’s practice sessions run from 10am to 3pm each Friday.

For more information and to get in contact with Andy and the orchestra, go to www.xylosound.org.uk