Villagers are holding a benefit concert for a young Serbian-born musician, who they have taken to their hearts.

On Saturday, December 7, the residents of Burton Bradstock are holding the concert to help 28-year-old Milos Milivojevic.

He trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London in classical accordion and has lived in Britain now for more than ten years.

He has become a favourite with audiences at the annual Burton Bradstock Festival.

At this year’s festival in August locals were appalled to find the talented musician is currently unable to travel abroad due to Home Office rule changes.

Having applied under the “Indefinite Leave to Remain” category in October 2012, after 10 years as a UK resident and having completed the Life in the UK test, he still has no visa, over a year after applying.

“This young, hugely talented musician should be embarking on an international music career,” said Janet Whitaker of the Burton Bradstock Festival of Music and Art Committee.

“Instead he has already had to cancel concerts in Dublin, Kazakhstan, Poland and Iceland.

“He has also had to postpone a debut solo CD for Nimbus Records as his accordion needs specialist repair in Bulgaria.

“This situation has also impacted on his personal life.

“His grandfather died in February and his mother broke her shoulder shortly afterwards, but Milos was unable to return to Serbia to comfort her, or attend his grandfather’s funeral.”

The Festival Committee hopes that the benefit concert will raise money towards helping Milos buy a new accordion, which costs between £12,000 and £14,000.

Committee members have also written to Milos’s own MP, Angie Bray and to local constituency MP, Oliver Letwin, both of whom, they say, have been “extremely helpful”.

Classical guitarist Craig Ogden, violinist David Jurtiz, cellist Adrian Bradbury and the Kosmos trio, as well as Milos himself, will all be playing. Tickets for the concert, in the village hall at Burton Bradstock at 7pm, are £20 from the village post office or from 01308 897203 .