A NEW Ribble Valley community group, spearheaded by a caring grandad, will organise a charity concert to raise funds for a specialist children's hospital.

Derek Russell, 65, who has lived in Clitheroe for 35 years, has gathered a group of friends to set up the 'Hey Clitheroe' association, a group designed to raise cash for worthy causes.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The group's first event, a concert, will raise cash for Alder Hey Children's Hospital in memory of Mr Russell's six-day-old granddaughter Lillian Carlton.

Lilian died of a heart condition in at the hospital in 2004.

Mr Russell said his group of friends have really helped the fund raising come to life.

He said: "I said when I retired I would not just sit on my posterior and do nothing.

"I wanted to raise money for Alder Hey who were absolutely fantastic with Lillian who we had for a very short amount of time.

"I originally planned on fundraising on my own and after talking with some good friends of mine, they said all wanted to help.

"One of them said I should set up a concert, and we then started looking into venues and we thought The Grand would be perfect."

The music event which will be held at The Grand.

Two Clitheroe-based acts, Led Zepplin inspired 'Good Foxy' and 16-piece Jazz and Blues band 'The BluFunk Syndicate', have already been confirmed.

The group want to take the fund raising further and through the newly formed 'Hey Clitheroe Association', which will look into funding future events for local and national causes.

Mr Russell, who is chairman of the association, said:"All the members live in or close to Clitheroe and we are immensely proud of our town, and its people.

"We all feel that what we are attempting to do is extremely worthwhile and have decided to arrange further such events, the 'The Hey Clitheroe Association' has been formed to support this.

"In organising this, and future events, we intend to support our community and to feature local artists wherever possible in order to promote the tremendous talent the town has to offer.

"I would love to raise as much money as I can for the hospital, Lillian was born in a hospital in Liverpool and was transferred to Alder Hey and both hospitals were amazing for her."

The concert will take place at The Grand in York Street on Friday, March 4 and the doors will open at 7.30pm.

To book tickets call 01200 421599.