Nine-year-old Ben Gillin, who is the baby of the City of Leeds Pipe Band, can often be seen leading the pipers at events all over West Yorkshire.

But now Ben is leading the search for fresh faces to join the historic band, which will stage a big recruitment drive in Leeds city centre on Saturday May 24.

Ben, who will also appear with the pipers at Pudsey Carnival on Saturday, started playing the bagpipes five years ago – and he told the YEP he loves the attention he gets when he wears the kilt.

He said: "Being in the band is really fun and I really like it.

"There are two reasons why I enjoy it – one is because I might get money in the future; the other is because people are always saying "Oooh, look at him" and it makes me really happy.

"I think more adults should join the band because its fun and they won't regret it. But I don't want any more children to join because I like having all the attention."

The recruitment drive, led by Pipe Major John Grant, will be held in Dortmund Square on Saturday, when people can listen to the City of Leeds Pipe Band and ask questions about how to join.

The 15-strong group has a history spanning almost 50 years but in recent times, numbers have dwindled and John wants more people to take up the bagpipes.

The band performs at the Ilkley, Pudsey and Horsforth carnivals. John also plans to perform at the Box Tree restaurant in Ilkley on New Year's Eve.

John said: "Our main aim is simply to keep a pipe band in the city."

* Visit: www.leeds pipeband.co.uk for details.