A CATHEDRAL concert has raised money for old soldiers and families affected by a devastating earthquake.

Durham Cathedral hosted a concert by the Band of the Brigade of the Gurkhas and the Pipes and Drums of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles on Wednesday, September 30.

Proceeds will go to The Gurkha Welfare Trust, which supports former soldiers and their widows and is also helping those devastated by earthquakes in Nepal in April that killed 9,000 people.

Over the past 15 years, such concerts have raised a total of £150,000.

Alasdair MacConachie, managing director of Sherwoods car dealership, which sponsored the concert, said: “It’s wonderful to welcome so many people here to such a magnificent building to celebrate 200 years of loyal service by the Gurkhas.

“My dear late father commanded a battalion of the 5th Gurkhas in Burma so this cause is especially close to my heart.”

Event organiser Lieutenant Colonel Keith Ryding, of the Yorkshire branch of The Gurkha Welfare Trust, said: “The Gurkhas have served this country impeccably for two centuries and I could not think of a better setting in which to pay tribute to them.”