THE Durham and Yorkshire branch of the Scots Guards Association has organised a three-day event to raise cash for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Fundraising will begin on Friday, September 5 with a concert by the Scots Guards Regimental Band at Ripon Cathedral at 7pm.

Free tickets will be issued on a first-come-first-served basis at the door.

On the Saturday, which is also the first day of the Ripon International Festival, volunteers will collect money in Ripon Market Place.

A stall will be set up to sell produce to raise extra cash for the ambulance, which relies on charitable donations.

The band will once again perform in the Market Place from 6pm.

On the Sunday, the finale will see hundreds of former guardsmen turn up at Ripley Showfield for the Scots Guards Association Gathering, which takes place every two years.

The event, admission to which is by ticket only, will feature a march, a battalion roll call, pipes and drums, an aerobatics display and a demonstration from the Red Devils Freefall parachute team.

Branch member Stewart Webb, of Baldersby St James, near Thirsk, said: "It's going to be an action-packed three days. It seemed perfect to choose the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as the beneficiary with it being a true Yorkshire charity."

For information and ticket details, contact Mr Webb on (01765) 640571.