THERE will be a multi-media Valentine's Ball at the Ashton Hall in Lancaster Town Hall on Friday, February 14, with stand-up comedy, a live band, international and local DJs, digital video projections and dance beat bliss.

Organised by the Hearts on Fire Collective, the ball will help raise money for the local women and children suffering form domestic violence with a 'make love not war' theme.

Acts lined up to perform include Question of Bass from Dublin, One Love and Buddhakhan from Lancaster, stand up Greg Cook, and live music from JayDid.

"We chose Valentine's Day because of its origins in the time of the war monger Emperor Claudius," says one of the organisers, Steve, "He had difficulty enlisting men in unpopular and bloody military campaigns and outlawed marriage and engagements to help his cause.

"St Valentine courageously performed these ceremonies in secret and, having been discovered, was clubbed to death and beheaded."

Like St Valentines, Hearts on Fire hope the event will act as a focus for local people opposed to the use of violence.

"All the proceeds from the event will be donated to Lancaster and District Women's Aid," adds Steve, "a local charity which assists women and their children who are experiencing domestic violence."

The Valentine's Ball is an all-ticket event and they are available from Andy's Records, Proper Records, Play it Again Music in Lancaster Market, The Whale Tail Cafe and both the Lancaster and Morecambe Tourist offices.