Choirs and singers gathered in Dorchester to raise money for a Dorset disability charity.

Crowds at Brewery Square were entertained in the ‘Sing to Raise’ event.

Gut & Steel, Dorset for Singing, Dorset Rock Choir, Gracie Park and Hannah Gough all performed to raise money for Diverse Abilities.

Ed Hintze, choirmaster for Dorset for Singing, said: “We raised money for Diverse Abilities last year.

“When they contacted us and said they wanted to do the event at Brewery Square, we said yes.

“It was really good fun and the surroundings were great, just like an amphitheatre. I was really pleased with the turnout.

“We have 120 people between two choirs who they don’t have to attend the concerts, but this time we seemed to have around 60 to 80 singers.”

A singer in the Dorset for Singing choir said: “I thoroughly enjoyed it and enjoyed taking part.

“We have done other concerts in Weymouth, but the group performing wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of Ed.”

The event at Brewery Square was one of eleven, with different venues hosting different acts to raise money for the charity.

Speaking on the day, Fiona Hansford, corporate and community manager for Diverse Abilities, said: “The event is going well.

“It started off wet, but lots of people have been attending.

“We estimate a couple of hundred or more maybe would have attended by the end of the day.”

Speaking of the groups that were giving up their time, Lauren Mccullough, event and stewardship manager at Diverse Abilities, said: “It’s really lovely. It’s very heartwarming that people are giving up time to sing, and we are really grateful to them.”

As well as the singers contributing, the team at Brewery Square helped to provide the PA system.

The month long-initiative aims to encourage people to give up time to sing and raise money for the charity.

Individuals were invited to make a difference in their community through getting their singing group together or holding a musical event for the charity.

They could:

* Organise a sing-a-thon at a local supermarket or shopping centre

* Dedicate their own open mic night to Diverse Abilities with a bucket collection at the venue

* Organise a ticketed performance

* Host a singing competition at school

* Busk on the street to raise funds

* Deliver singing telegrams within their office to colleagues

Diverse Abilities is an independent, not for profit organisation which works with families to help meet the needs of local people of all ages, with physical and learning disabilities.

Visit diverseabilities.org.uk