ALTON’S Public Gardens will provide the venue on Saturday for the 12th annual Last Night of the Proms.

The musical fun starts at 7.30pm and the theme this year has been inspired by ‘fire and water’.

On the watery side, the orchestra will perform the overture to The Pirates of Penzance opera and on the fiery side Stravinsky’s Danse Infernale from his music for Diaghilev’s ballet L’Oiseau de Feu (Firebird), among others.

Alton Concert Orchestra chairman Chris Leggett said: “Chris Gardner has now taken over the baton from David Budd and has crafted a very lively programme of music. He has brought us together with other performing groups in Alton to showcase the best in local talent and deliver what promises to be a very enjoyable concert.

“David Budd will be returning to conduct three numbers. Let’s hope that the elements don’t contrive to join in with the fire and water theme for the evening!”

The Alton Concert Orchestra will be joined on stage by Alton Operatic and Dramatic Society and Luminosa, who will perform four songs from Frank Loesser’s hit musical Guys and Dolls with soloists Christine Bothwell, Richard Seecks, Hannah Garcia and Mark Aston.

The evening will conclude with traditional favourites Rule Britannia, The National Anthem and Auld Lang Syne, performed by Rebekah Abbott.

The event is organised by Alton Town Council in collaboration with the Alton Concert Orchestra and sound technician Dave Tigg.

The event programme, featuring biographies of lead performers, and Union flags will be available to buy on the night, and promgoers are invited to bring rugs, picnic hampers and deck chairs.

* The Public Gardens will be closed from 6am-6pm on Saturday for setting up and rehearsals. The gates will be locked after the concert ends until around 9am on Sunday (July 15).