THE schools of Tavistock are this week preparing to come together for a unique service on Sunday at Tavistock parish church. The usual form of service at St Eustachius' Church is giving way to a service based on the television programme 'Songs of Praise', in which each local school will choose and sing a hymn or song which means something to their school community. Members of each school will explain why their particular song has been chosen.

The service is arranged to coincide with Education Sunday, the Sunday in the year when churches across the country give thanks for their local schools, and pray for all involved in education.

The service this year is being led by Alex Ewing, the churches' youth worker in Tavistock and Kelly Colleges, helped by his assistant youthworkers, Meike, Naomi and Pete.

The Rev Michael Brierley, priest-in-charge of Tavistock, said: 'The schools in Tavistock do such fantastic work, we are delighted to celebrate what they do, and to ask for God's blessing upon them.

'It's wonderful that we do this in no passive way, but with the schools singing their hearts out in their own offering of thanks and praise. It's a really joyful occasion, huge fun, and everyone is warmly invited.'

The service begins at 9.45am, and all parishioners, together with school pupils and their families and friends, are welcome to attend.