A SELLOUT concert featuring Brighouse and Rastrick Band and young singers and musicians from Rochdale has given a bumper boost to our appeal for Springhill Hospice.

The concert, at Gracie Fields Theatre, was organised by Rotary Club of Rochdale East to raise money for Springhill Hospice and Rochdale Music Service.

Both are the chosen charities of president Ian Sandiford, who is backing them during his year in office.

Mr Sandiford and his wife Janet are long-standing supporters of the hospice. He described the concert as a ‘magical night, one which will be remembered for many years’.

The Rotarian has pledged a large donation from the evening’s proceeds, which made £5,000, to the Observer’s Can You Spare A Minute? appeal.

The concert starred the world-famous Brighouse and Rastrick Band accompanied by the massed choir of Rochdale Music Service and Rochdale Youth Band. Compere for the evening was Norman Prince.

Mr Sandiford said: "All the performances were of the highest standard. People were saying it was the best concert they had seen for many years and there have been lots of inquiries to see if we are holding another one next year.

"It was very satisfying to see the theatre full to capacity and I feel very proud of the young people of Rochdale who performed so majestically in front of so many people.

"Brighouse and Rastrick played as the world championship band they have become over a 125-year history."