A steel pan group has been awarded a £15,000 grant to participate in the Lord Mayor's Show.

Endurance Steel Orchestra said they were shocked to discover their application for the grant had been successful.

The group, which is based in the Waterside Centre, South Norwood, encourages young people to participate positively in their local communities by developing their musical talent.

Orchestra director Marlon Hibbert and other members aged between 13 and 21 will be part of a 7,000 strong processions featuring over 150 organisations, to travel the three-and-a-half miles long route on Saturday November 9.

Mr Hibbert said the grant had been useful in helping the band create their float.

The 21-year-old said: "We are going to have the float decorated like a Caribbean cruise ship, with lots of balloons and dancers in costumes.

"We have been working with students from the Brit School to decorate the float- it looks amazing.

"There will be 15 of us on the float it is going to be amazing, we are all really looking forward to it."

As well as having performers on the float itself, members from CSE stunts, a team of professional tumblers and freerunners will also travel and perform alongside the float.

Mr Hibbert set up the group when he was 17, he added: "I wanted a band where people had the opportunity to be treated fairly.

"We aim to be like a family and want to be a place where young people can relax."

The Lord Mayor's show dates back to 1215, when King John granted a charter allowing London residents to elect their own mayor.

Every year since the newly elected Lord Mayor of London travels from the City of London to Westminster to pledge allegiance to the Crown.

The route is over three-and-a-half miles long and the show can can be watched live on BBC1.