SOPRANO Jill Washington, who starred in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, will be among the soloists at a promenade concert being staged in Maidstone's Whatman Park at the end of the month.

Miss Washington is believed to have played Christine - the lead female role in the show - for longer than any actress in the world.

The concert takes place in the tranquil setting of the park within the Maidstone Millennium River Park on Saturday, May 31. The free event, entitled Proms in the Park, is being organised by Maidstone council and sponsored by the Kent Messenger Group.

It follows the success of a pageant, picnic and promenade concert in the park last year to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

This year, concert-goers will be entertained by the Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra and street entertainers from 4pm. There will also be a bouncy castle for children.

The concert, which will feature The Locrian Ensemble, will start at 7.30pm. The Locrian Ensemble is a group of top classical musicians who have supported the top names in the pop world as well as playing on the soundtracks to films such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Captain Corelli's Mandolin and The Full Monty.

The first half of the programme will consist largely of songs from West End shows, while the second will feature classics from the Last Night of the Proms, such as Jerusalem and Land of Hope of Glory.