WOULD-BE conductors can enjoy a star performance and raise money for charity at Dorchester's Lakeside Magic.

The highest bidder of a musical auction can put their skills to the test with the opportunity to conduct the Brandenburg Sinfonia orchestra.

All the money raised will go to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

The fundraiser was inspired by last year's impromptu auction for Breast Cancer care that raised £301.

Lakeside Magic organiser Sue Cull said: "The conductor Bob Porter asked if there was anything he could do and someone said they would love to have a go at conducting and would pay for it, so he did an announcement on the night.

crosshead "It went so well that we wanted to do it again because there might be an child or an adult who would love to try conducting and is willing to pay towards the charity.

"It's taking place in three weeks time and they will conducting 'Jerusalem' and we'd give them two tickets to come to the show and a framed photograph of them conducting. Aled Jones is singing with the orchestra and we've got Marilyn Hill Smith as well."

She added: "The reason we chose the ambulance service is because it absolutely desperately needs funds and we were looking for a local charity to support.

"It costs £1,000 an hour to fly the helicopter and £3,500 a day to run the service, so anything we can do for them we will."

The air ambulance came into service in March 2000 and responds mostly to emergency calls in remote locations.

The charity is deployed by the ambulance service and on average receives two to four calls per day.

A regular patron of the lakeside proms, Abbey Atherton whose mother Janet Miller was rescued by the emergency service last year from Tyneham beach will also be fundraising on the show nights.

Mrs Atherton and a team of girls from her Naughty Nails and Beauty salon in Dorchester will be donning fancy dress and rattling donation buckets with the air ambulance team.

She said: "The audience on Saturday night will be 4,000 strong as it has sold out, so if every person just donated £1 we could raise £4,000 on one night alone, the amount we could raise for the four nights could be potentially massive."

The charity event is taking place on Friday July 13, to place a bid to conduct the orchestra or find out more call 01305 751631.