COME and sing what you want -- that is the message to schools from organisers of this year's Colne's Luther Greenwood Festival.

The number of schools entering the annual festival has dropped recently and in an effort to attract more young people to the 2002 music event, the music committee has decided to drop the traditional requirement for a test piece and will let junior choirs present two contrasting songs of their own choice in future.

This year's dance festival will take place on June 1, 2 and 8 at the Municipal Hall, in Colne.

Committee press officer Eric Beardsworth said: "We were concerned that the number of schools competing has dwindled especially in the last year or two. We felt that schools may have been put off by having to prepare test pieces, especially since the music festival is in the run-up to Christmas when schools are busy with other things.

"They will be welcome to sing a couple of their best party pieces as long as they're suitable for a competition. We really would love to see more schools taking part again and we'd like them to start thinking now about entering."

The festival executive committee, which held its annual meeting last week, is facing increasing costs, especially for bringing in adjudicators so it aims to trim costs, raise extra funds from special concerts and events, and attract more entries and bigger audiences.

The new committee chairman is Peter Jelley, of Simonstone, who is also secretary of Burnley Festival. He has taken over from Ronald Crossley, who was thanked for acting as caretaker chairman.

Officers elected are Patron, Susan Chippendale; chairman, Peter Jelley; vice-chairman, Mildred Wightman, treasurer, David Roe; secretary, Stephanie Beardsworth; assistant secretary, Muriel Waite; entries secretary, Allan Watson; trophies secretaries, Sidney and Ruth Roe; sponsors secretary and events recorder, Kathleen Bannister.