ONE of the region's most successful fiddle groups is warming up for the tour of a lifetime.

Musicians from Riddell Fiddles will head to the sunny island of Barbados at the end of May to play a series of concerts and even headline a Celtic festival.

And to help them with the costs, they have been out busking recently at Tesco in Galashiels, Sainsbury's in Kelso and Morrison's in Hawick.

Ahead of the Caribbean trip, which is supported by Hastings Legal and The Wee Guitar Shop, the Selkirk-based group will also host an in-house concert with Ireland fiddle champion Brendan Hendry on April 22.

And they have also been booked to play on Ancrum Green during the Art @ Ancrum weekend on April 29.

Following the Barbados dates Riddell Fiddles will be back on home soil playing the Hawick Bandstand in Wilton Park on June 11 and the Songs of Praise event at Ancrum Kirk on June 18.

Riddell Fiddles will also be practising each week and hosting workshops with full details publicised on the website www.riddellfiddles.co.uk

Splinter group, the Bannerfield Buskers is also enjoying a busy spring with practice ahead of the lottery funded Coffee Morning on May 6 at Philiphaugh Community Centre.

This free event is for the whole community with cakes and scones provided by Sukie's Scones.