SPENSTOCK Four raised more than £3,000 to fight Motor Neurone Disease in a night of music and laughter.

The music event at the Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Rooms raised £3,217 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

The event was in memory of Spencer Bates, the former Balance of Power drummer, who battled the disease and was the first event since he passed away in August last year.

Hundreds of people turned out to support the event and enjoyed an evening listening and dancing along to local acts including the Speedway Snails, Shooter, The Best Tina Turner Tribute with Angie Bennett and Replay.

The evening was organised by Mary and Steve Bates, Spencer’s mum and dad, and his widow Nicky.

Nicky sang with The Best Tina Turner tribute and the crowd joined in, singing along to songs including Simply The Best and We Don’t Need Another Hero.

Mary Bates said the evening had been fantastic and they would soon be handing over the cheque to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

She said: “Everybody was saying it was a fantastic night. It really was good.”

She added: “We know it’s very hard times but people were so generous.”

The family held a mini-auction with top prizes including time in a recording studio, prints from an Oxford artist and a signed CD box set of Lionel Richie’s hits.

In total the four Spenstock events have raised more than £33,000 for the charity.

Mrs Bates said that Spencer would have been delighted with the turn.

She said: “He would have loved it, absolutely loved it.

“So many of his friends said that we had done him proud.”

Mrs Bates thanked everyone who came along and took part.

She said: “Everyone gave their time and their talent for free and without them we couldn’t do it.”

She added: “Everyone was saying what a lovely atmosphere it was.”

And the family have said that Spenstock will be back for a fifth night of music soon.

Mrs Bates said: “There definitely will be another: Watch this space.”