Helensburgh has found itself supported by music legend David Bowie after its community gathered together to cover his classic track Heroes - all in an effort to bring attention to the area.

The single, which is released on August 1, echoes the star-studded cover of Lou Reed’s Perfect Day that raised funds for Children In Need when it hit number one in 1997. 

It is also the end product of six months hard work by over 100 local volunteer singers and musicians.  

The project is now beginning to capture the public imagination, particularly among users of popular online social networking service Twitter. 

Many Bowie and Eno fan sites have “tweeted” their support and news of the single is now featuring on the homepage of David Bowie’s official web site, the Thin White Duke lending his support to the unique project. 

Phil Worms, the project’s executive producer, and a director of Helensburgh Heroes, the charity behind the project, said: “What started out as a pretty crazy idea has snowballed into an extraordinary celebration of local creative talent. 

“In a short space of time, we have formed a record company, which we hope will be of benefit to local musicians in the future, registered a new band, and recorded a video to accompany the single.

“Given that this is Scotland’s Homecoming Year, it would an amazing achievement if we could dent the charts this summer.” 

Local Helensburgh residents put their talents together in an attempt to raise awareness for both the talented and inspirational people that have hailed from the Helensburgh area, and the need for permanent arts and leisure facilities.  

Local Helensburgh ‘Heroes’ include television inventor John Logie Baird, six-time Academy Award-nominated actress Deborah Kerr, 30s screen star Jack Buchanan, legendary Scottish entertainer Jimmy Logan OBE, sports presenter Hazel Irvine, award-winning portrait artist David Caldwell, actor James Copeland and playwright Tom Gallacher.

The recording process commenced in January of this year, when over 70 Helensburgh people aged 70 to 80 congregated in a local hall to record the choral elements of the song. 

A team of 12 volunteer lead vocalists, who were coached and mentored by Kirsten Easdale, a professional singer and former member of Scottish folk band Calasaig, then laid down the final track for mixing and mastering.

The artwork for the single was also created by three Helensburgh primary school pupils who won a local competition to design a cover for the project which attracted over 200 entries.

The single will be premiered and released at a musical event in Helensburgh on August 1, with all proceeds used by the Helensburgh Heroes Charity to promote the arts within the area.