EPPING Music Society is to receive a £400 grant from Epping Town Council to help it continue to stage classical concerts.

The money will cover the society's estimated deficit for the current financial year.

The town council previously awarded the society grants of £350 in 2002 and £300 in 2005.

In a submission to the finance and general purposes committee, society treasurer Frank Bill said: "We consider the society provides a valuable service to the local community, being the only organisation in Epping that makes live performance of classical music available to the public on a regular basis.

"It would be desirable to maintain an adequate bank balance from one financial year to the next thereby enabling a following season's concerts to be arranged with confidence."

Epping Music Society describes its aims as "to maintain and advance education and appreciation of the art and science of music".

In the past it has also secured grant funding from Epping Forest District Council. Over the past three years the society has unsuccessfully approached Tesco, the Gannett Foundation and the Foundation for Sports and the Arts for grant aid.