EALING-born pop singer Elyar Fox has joined forces with a host of big musical names to back a nationwide appeal to bring instruments to primary school children.

Don’t Stop the Music, started by classical pianist James Rhodes, aims to give children from less privileged backgrounds the opportunity to learn to play by calling on people to donate their unused instruments.

Fox, who was brought up in Greenford and attended schools in the area, said: “I will definitely be donating an instrument, to hopefully make someone’s future more musical.”

Other celebrities who have pledged their support include Sir Paul McCartney, Sting, Sir Tom Jones and Ronnie Wood.

The 19-year old added: “Having access to instruments when I was really young was totally important. I remember in high school we always had pianos and guitars around and, even if they were old and a bit damaged, it still made all the difference.”

So far, 3,000 instruments have been pledged to the appeal, which ends on October 17.

Hathaway Primary School in Castlebar, Ealing, is one of the 150 state schools that will benefit from the campaign.

The school hopes that having access to free instruments will enhance learning for its students, many of whom speak English as their second language.

A spokesperson said: “When their music co-ordinator brought a recorder to the school, none of her pupils knew what it was.”

All instruments donated will be cleaned and any minor repairs undertaken before being distributed to schools across the UK this autumn .

For more information, visit: www.dontstopthemusic.co.uk