Oxfordshire's most talented young musicians were on song at the weekend despite an arson attack on the school where they rehearse.

They are aiming to hit the right notes when they take on the best in the country at the National Festival for Musical Youth in July.

On Saturday, the musicians were busy rehearsing at the County Music Service's base at Bayards Hill Primary School in Barton, Oxford - just days after a fire destroyed classrooms.

Twenty-five firefighters fought the blaze at the Waynflete Road school on Thursday night and police are linking it to another arson attack at a sports pavilion in Margaret Road, Headington.

Among the hopefuls selected for the event in Birmingham are South Oxfordshire Starter Choir and the Oxfordshire Youth Harp Ensemble, who have won a place in the prestigious competition for the first time.

The County Youth Orchestra are regular campaigners and will be joined by the Oxfordshire Youth Percussion Ensemble who are hoping to match their success from two years ago when they received the outstanding performance award and were invited to play at the 2004 Schools' Prom at the Royal Albert Hall.

Wood Green Choir from Witney, Headington School Chamber Choir and Wantage Tots - a young brass group from the Wantage Silver Band - will also be representing Oxfordshire at the event.

The seven groups were selected for the finals at Birmingham's Symphony Hall, which takes place between July 10 and 15, after impressing the judges at the Regional Festival of Music for Youth hosted by Oxfordshire County Council's Music Service Centre for Music.

County music service director Dick Hallam said: "We are thrilled that so many of the groups from Oxfordshire will be representing the county yet again at this high-profile national event.

"The people of Oxfordshire are extremely lucky to have so many talented young musicians in the county, performing to such a high standard, in such a wide variety of musical styles."

The Oxfordshire Youth Harp Ensemble are making their debut at this years' show having impressed the judges with a performance of traditional Irish music.

Around 20 children aged between seven and nine will be performing for the first time with the South Oxfordshire Starter Choir.

Following success two years ago the Oxfordshire Youth Percussion Ensemble will again be hoping for great things and will be including a piece of Cuban music in their performance.

Anyone with information on the fires is asked to call Dc Miranda Moore on 08458 505505, or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.

*All 320 pupils returned to Bayards Hill Primary School this morning following the arson attack. Staff have created make-shift classrooms in the school library and other areas in the school so that lessons can carry on as normal. Headteacher Keith Ponsford praised parents and the local authority for its support and said teachers and children were coping well with the upheaval.