Pianos to be dotted around city

Luke has taken his public piano idea around the world

Up to 20 upright pianos are to be placed around Bristol, for the public to play, in celebration of the city's revamped music venue.

Luke Jerram has taken his Play Me, I'm Yours idea across the globe, and has been booked by his home city to mark next month's Colston Hall reopening.

The pianos will be chained to lampposts or trees, and protected from the rain by tarpaulin sheets from 4 September.

They were bought from a local piano removal firm at a cost of £100 each.

Canvas for creativity

Mr Jerram, 34, said he had come up with the idea while at a launderette.

He said: "I noticed that people weren't talking to each other, even though it was the same people every week. It was the same queuing for the bus.

"I thought 'wouldn't it be nice transform that situation'. So I thought about putting a piano in that situation, and it seemed to work.

"I have taken the idea around the world, and I'm taking it home."

Mr Jerram has taken the concept to Brazil, Australia and around the UK.

He said: "There seems to be a lot of musicians out there who don't have access to a piano. It's a canvas for their creativity."