BABIES as young as six weeks old are being introduced to music at a Blackburn school in a bid to help them learn better later in life.

Roe Lee Park Primary School has set up a mums and toddlers music group catering for youngsters up to three years old, after research showed that listening and responding to music can help children's brains develop.

The music session now runs weekly.

Headteacher Glenys Lees said: "Our youngest participant was just six weeks old when her mum, a music teacher herself on maternity leave, brought her along.

"She's now coming with her dad, as her mum has gone back to work. When she gets older she can take a more active part in the sessions.

"Most of the children are older, but we also have 18-month-old twins who are learning to listen and respond to rhythm and sounds.

"We do a lot of nursery rhymes and sounds with hand signals, which the children copy. Research shows that listening and physical action helps children develop both sides of the brain.

"We're a very musical school anyway, with pupils studying flute, keyboards and drums."

The music session runs on Tuesday morning from 9am to 9.40am in term time only and costs £1 per session.