SEPTEMBER 25 will be a red-letter day for lovers of the music of Sir Edward Elgar.

Jemma Pearson's long-awaited bronze statue of the great man will be unveiled in Hereford Cathedral Close.

While Sir Edward lived in Hereford, from 1904 to 1911, he wrote such glorious masterpieces as his two Symphonies, the Violin Concerto and the Introduction and Allegro for Strings.

The ceremonies will begin with a procession from the town hall at 3pm, followed by a special Evensong in the cathedral.

Among his works that will be performed at the service is the Civic Fanfare he wrote for the opening of the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford in 1927.

Following the service, Dame Janet Baker, will unveil the statue of Sir Edward standing with the Sunbeam bicycle on which he used to ride around the Malvern Hills.

Dame Janet is also a vice-president of the Elgar Society and a trustee of The Foundation for Sport and Arts, the principal contributor to the Statue Appeal Fund.