The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus was launched at the Museum of Liverpool yesterday and the former Beatle’s widow – the patron and major sponsor of the project – was guest of honour. The bus, equipped with the latest studio equipment, is designed to give young people across Europe the chance to try their hand at music and the creative arts.

Among the first to use its facilities was Liverpool-based boyband Mic Lowry, who performed at the launch ceremony. Crowds were also shown a video about the bus, which included scenes shot in John’s childhood home in Menlove Avenue.

The Lennon Bus will stop at schools, colleges and music festivals in Austria, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom before the end of the year. This will include a residence on London’s Southbank for the duration of the Yoko Ono Lennon-curated Meltdown festival that runs between 14-22 June 14-22