One of Oxfordshire's leading musical figures has been asked to help devise a national music strategy.

Richard HallamRichard Hallam, the head of Oxfordshire County Council's music service, has been appointed as an adviser to the Government two days a week.

He will work for the Department for Education and Science on a 12-month secondment to help promote and improve the way music is taught.

Mr Hallam has already worked with the Government in his role as Chairman of the National Association of Music Educators.

Mr Hallam said: "This appointment is a reflection of the high esteem the Oxfordshire Music Service is held in throughout the country.

"Our staff do things to a high standard, and that is widely appreciated. Everybody in the music service should take credit for my appointment and I thank them for their continued hard work."

Tony Crabbe, the county council's executive member for schools, said: "The county can only benefit from having someone at the centre of national policy-making for a while."

Earlier this year, the service was awarded a national Diploma of Merit for the second year running.

The praise from the National Music Council came just weeks after the music service announced a series of teaching cuts, as a result of a budget deficit of £190,000.