Nicola Benedetti takes to Twitter to halt planned cuts to music lessons

Violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti has called on Nicola Sturgeon to cancel cuts to music lessons for children.

Edinburgh Council is considering cutting up to 75% of the cash sent to schools to pay for musical instrument tuition.

The move has been slated by campaigners who claim it would spell disaster for talented young musicians unable to foot the bill of private lessons forcing them to hang up their instruments for good.

Supporters of the campaign have even set up a petition pleading with the council to backtrack on its plans.

Benedetti, 28, who began learning to play at four years old, tweeted to the First Minister.

Her message read: “I would like to draw your attention to this Nicola Sturgeon. We are all praying for the correct outcome.”

Her tweet contained a link to the 5,600-strong petition calling on the council to cancel its plans, titled: “Say NO To The Proposed Budget Cut of Our Edinburgh Schools Music Tuition Service.”

Edinburgh City Council is in the midst of a programme of cuts instigated in a bid to save £126 million over the next four years.