MOTORCYCLE insurance pioneer Carole Nash was today on a high-speed trip to Hamburg to buy a new piano for Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.

Accompanied by virtuoso piano soloist Kathryn Stott, herself a Manchester resident, and Fiona McLeod of the Hallé Orchestra, Carole was flying by private jet to the Steinway factory to help choose the new piano.

It will be available to be played for the first time at the Hallé's 150th birthday concert on January 30 next year.

Carole Nash founded the Altrincham-based motorcycle insurance company which bears her name in 1985 and sold it last December to French firm Groupama for an estimated £85m.

Steinway's top concert hall pianos retail at £100,000 or more.