A charity has been given a ‘generous boost’ of £1,400 from three fundraising nights of music.

The events, three nights of singing, were to raise money for Fortuneswell Cancer Care, a charity that seeks to improve services provided to cancer patients in Dorset, mainly through Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

Starting on Saturday, February 10, a barn dance at the Upwey and Broadwey Memorial Hall helped raise funds with a performance from the Tree Fellahs.

The following afternoon, at the Convivial Rabbit, a micropub off Trinity Street in Dorchester, fundraising continued with music from the Chimney Fish, Show of Fingers and then Moonfleet.

One last fundraising effort took place on the following Tuesday in the Stable Bar at the Drax Arms in Bere Regis, which featured musical melodies from Boodle, Paul Openshaw and the Bere Essentials.

Donations were collected along with raffles to bring the total sum to £1,400.

Paul Openshaw was one of the organisers of the event, with the cause close to him as he was treated for the last six months by the trust, and wanted to raise a four-figure sum for the charity.

He said: “You don’t know how it’s going to go, but people were so generous and the bands took the time out for free which was incredible.”

Loric Collins, the vice chair of the trust, said: “It’s a terrific boost, a fantastic amount that Paul has raised for us and it will be put to good use with our different events.

"We support the open reach program and Bridport for cancer treatment, and help pay for reflexology to patients at the unit, as well as supporting nurses and doctors on the unit as we have done for the past 25 years."

Fundraising has helped the charity collect more than £1m since they were established.

“A huge thanks goes to all the fundraisers and donations bequeathed to us, and a thanks to the Convivial Rabbit, Paul and everyone else that took part in these three nights of singing,” he added.

Convivial Rabbit owner, Nigel Baker said: “This event was really special to hold, and we were happy to support Paul in his quest and provide that platform for the charity.”

There are more chances to support the charity in the coming months, with the trust holding a stall along Weymouth seafront on Sunday, May 5.

There will also be a swing time fundraising event held at Borough Gardens in Dorchester on Sunday, July 7.

To find out more about what the Fortuneswell Cancer Trust do, visit www.fortuneswellcancertrust.co.uk