AN Alice Cooper tribute act made an unlikely appearance at a North-East hospice.

Members of the 11-strong band, Alice Cooper’s Nightmare, visited St Benedict’s Hospice, in Sunderland, ahead of a weekend fundraising show, replicating a performance by the US heavy rock veteran.

It is staged at The Alexandra pub, Grangetown, Sunderland, on Sunday, at 3pm.

Dubbed Alice in Sunderland, The Mad Cooper’s Tea Party, it is raising funds for the Big Brew Up campaign in support of the hospice.

Manager and front man, Brian Ross, said: “We’ll be performing a shorter version of our usual show then we’re going to sit down and have tea and sandwiches.

Hospice community fundraiser, Lisa Peverley, said: “The Big Brew Up campaign is a new event for us at St Benedict’s this year and the show is certainly different to anything we’ve seen before.”

Tickets, priced £10, for both the show and tea, and are available from St Benedict’s 0191-512 8436, from the Alexandra, on Queen Alexandra Road, on 0191-510 1100.