BANDS at a charity concert raised more than £2,000 in memory of a popular colleague.

The Royal Signals TA Band joined Fishburn, Cockerton Silver and Spennymoor Town bands in tribute to Tim Holmes, who was 47 when he died from cancer in May.

The event at Spennymoor Town Hall raised £2,151, to be shared by East Green Residential Home, West Auckland, Spennymoor Junior Band and Spennymoor Health Centre doctors.

Concert organiser Hugh Stephenson said: "I am delighted with the sum raised. It's magnificent and I would like to thank all the bands for taking part and the audience that packed Spennymoor Town Hall.''

A memorial cup named after Mr Holmes, who lived in Spennymoor, will become part of an annual presentation given to the best principal cornet at the Northern Area Brass Band Championships.

The competititon is staged every year at the Dolphin Centre, which is in Darlington town centre.