SELL-out Christmas shows by North-East pop legends Lindisfarne raised more than £16,000 for charity.

Harmonica player and vocalist Ray Jackson re-formed the group with a new line-up to play a show to help save Newcastle City Hall.

The venue was reprieved but the group played three sell-out concerts there, echoing the great Lindisfarne Christmas shows of the past.

Concert-goers donated a total of £16,664 for free show programmes and the money will go to CICRA, a charity helping young people with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

The band will return to the City Hall this Christmas with two shows on Monday December 22 and Tuesday December 23.

Registered fans can buy tickets from Wednesday (March 26) and the general sale starts on Friday (March 28).

Ray Jackson said: “The shows last year were so successful and enjoyable and I could not have wished for a warmer welcome from the people of the North-East.

“Playing at the City Hall after a 23-year absence really felt like a homecoming.”

City Hall manager Peter Brennan said: “I’m sure we are well on the way to establishing another tradition for Lindisfarne at Christmas, and helping maintain the City Hall’s reputation for presenting the best in live music entertainment.”

Tickets are available from the City Hall Box Office on 0191- 2778030 www.newcastlecityhall.org, www.rayjacksonslindisfarne.com, www.kililive.com/artists/ray-jacksons-lindisfarne or www.seetickets.com