Robert Burns' family flute to be played in New York

A rare flute owned by the son of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns will be played in the United States for the first time, as part of a fundraising campaign to save the bard's Dumfriesshire home.

The 200-year-old flute is playable for the first time in decades, following a restoration project, and will now feature in New York City's Tartan Week.

Once owned by Burns' son, James Glencairn Burns, the flute will be played by acclaimed traditional flautist Claire Mann alongside Scottish artists Robyn Stapleton on vocals and Rebecca Hill on the harp.

The charity that owns Ellisland Farm, the only home ever built by Burns, has launched a £12m campaign to save and restore the historic site.

Built in 1788, Ellisland Farm is where Burns penned Auld Lang Syne, which would go on to become one of the world's most recognisable songs.

However, the farmstead and its collections are under threat from years of weathering and structural decay.

Joan McAlpine is the project director of The Robert Burns Ellisland Trust and said she hoped the performance would inspire more people to join the campaign.

"Americans have made Auld Lang Syne into one of the most famous songs in the world - an international anthem to friendship," she said.

''Now we are asking them to join hands with us, in the spirit of the song, to save the very special place where it was created.''

Songs composed at Ellisland will be played in front of the Burns Statue in Central Park on Thursday, before further performances for the American Scottish Foundation and the St Andrew's Society of the State of New York.

Flautist Claire Mann, who is being entrusted with the instrument and will lead the performances, said: "Every time I play this flute, I'm aware of how much history it holds.

"To play this instrument in front of Robert Burns' statue in Central Park will be a moment I'll never forget."