BOURNEMOUTH'S world class orchestra is to be celebrated in a brand new Daily Echo book.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has just finished a hugely successful season.

But readers can relive their achievements in a 160-page hardback book, which contains hundreds of pictures from our archives.

The tome will detail the orchestra's history, from its founding by Dan Godfrey as the Bournemouth Municipal Band in 1893 to the present day.

The pictures are accompanied by text at the beginning of each section outlining the key moments in the BSO’s rich and colourful history and introducing its principal characters.

The foreword to the book has been written by current chief conductor Kirill Karabits.

It is the latest volume in a series of books to be published by the Echo in recent years, including Coast, Dorset Then and Now and last year’s sell-out publication on AFC Bournemouth.

Editor and head of news at the Daily Echo, Andy Martin, said the orchestra has been an integral part of the town's cultural life since 1893.

"We have always been proud of our decades-long association with the BSO," he added.

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, From 1893 to the World will be available in the shops and through the Daily Echo from the end of September.

The book ends with four pages of pictures from August’s Meyrick Park Extravaganza, which also features on the cover.

For information on pre-orders please call 0845 189 8250. For more general information call Roger Thresh in the newspaper sales department on 01202 411236.

The book costs £14.95.