MONTHLY lunchtime recitals at Redcar's Tuned In performing arts centre are to continue.

The audience at the December concert was taken aback to hear it the last in the series.

"The concerts made a modest surplus each year and drew a regular audience each month," said Peter Sotheran, who has organised the concerts under the Classical Cleveland banner for the last three years.

New management which took over running the centre from January 1 reviewed the decision and concerts will resume in February. More are scheduled for March, May and June.

April is omitted because of activities for young people over Easter.

The hour-long concerts are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 1.30pm.

The series opens on February 8 with Owen Bunting, an award-winning classical guitarist who has performed under the patronage of Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace and in the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court, and at London's Wigmore and Royal Festival Halls. His programme is music by Bach, Riley and Giuliani.

On March 8, Indian-born pianist Sid Ramchander, former winner of the Young Musician of the Gulf competition, performs works by Beethoven, Debussy, Granados and Chopin.

Tickets cost £7 from the reception desk at Tuned In at the door.

Classical Cleveland also presents lunchtime concerts on the first Wednesday of the month at Stokesley Methodist Church.

The spring season starts on February 2 with Steph Yim (clarinet) and Hayley Parkes (piano). This award-winning duo from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester performs works by Weiner, Kovacs, Ravel and Bax.

On March 2, Russian pianist Yulia Vershinina returns in response to audience requests and plays works by Chopin, Beethoven and Schoenberg. Concerts continue in May and June.

Light lunches sold in aid of the Methodist church are available from noon. Tickets cost £7 at the door.

Full details are available at http://sotherans.wix.com/classical-cleveland or search for Classical-Cleveland.