PERCUSSIONIST Evelyn Glennie helped put Faversham in the wider public eye when she gave the first ever performance on a unique instrument - a musical railings installation.

A large crowd and the waiting media pack listened as she played chimes incorporated within the sound sculpture.

The public work of art surrounds the house of its creator, artist, musician and designer of new instruments and sound sculptures, Henry Dagg, of Millfield Road, Faversham, who also composed the score.

Clearly enraptured during the performance, he said afterwards: "I was thrilled to bits.

I knew she would play something really interesting and she certainly put everything into it. It was best premiere I could imagine."

Mr Dagg has a background in such sound sculptures. His creation Diving Bells was also on display during the ceremony, and he won the Golden Saw at the second International Saw Festival in California in 1988.

It took him five years to complete this latest work of art, which consists of a traditional Victorian-looking brick wall that supports a series of rails.

Included among these are lyre-shaped structures, which carry four tuned chime bars that ring when struck. He hand-forged the metal work.

Beside each set is a stave of sheet music to allow a passer-by to read the notes and then to play them. The railings present a composition of 28 chords.

He had two reasons for the installation. He wanted to highlight his sound sculpture work and stimulate interest in such work in general - there are few spaces available to show such installations - and having been restoring his house, the Victorian Biscuit House, he wanted to emulate the typical low wall and railing format of the age.

There was just one person he wanted to play it the first time - Evelyn Glennie. He said: "I simply recorded a little clip of me playing the rails on video and sent her an invitation.

"I've always felt from the beginning that the ideal person to ordain this installation was Evelyn Glennie. Her office rang back in a few days and said she would be happy to do it."

Ms Glennie, who is deaf and once played for the Kent County Youth Orchestra, said she had enjoyed herself. "There's a lot of bars to get round. It's good to have this opportunity. The one good thing about this event is we will all leave with a smile on our faces and that's a great thing and is the most positive thing," she said.

And although she had played various types of sculptures before, never had she had played one in a front garden.

Ms Glennie said: "I really like this. It's such a good position for this type of display to be and in a way it's a community piece. Everyone can look at it or just pop their nails across it. It's a great amount of craftsmanship he's put into it."

Faversham Mayor Cllr Cindy Davis said: "I always knew Faversham was unique and now a few more people will know it. It was a remarkable performance."