A CONCERT in aid of the tsunami appeal was held in North Nibley when residents Audrey Sewell and Wynne Holcombe gathered a large audience by word of mouth.

Music was performed by three members of the White family at St Martin's Church and in just one hour £3,129.40 was raised.

Tessa White said: "This was an amazing show of community solidarity. People seemed pleased to be able to give on their own doorstep, finding the appeal phone number constantly busy.

"And they felt unable to celebrate 2005 until they had done something positive about the terrible situation."

At one point during the concert, a string on Emily White's violin broke. A community-spirited member of the audience volunteered to collect his violin from home so she could continue to play.

While this was happening Emily played trombone, with her mother, Tessa, on horn, in a substantial duet by Mozart.

The replacement German violin was used, and other pieces of music included a sonata in D minor by Vivaldi, arranged for violin and viola, and the slow movement of Mozart's violin concerto in G major.

Two moving duets for violin by Bartok were also played, one called 'Sorrow'. Lighter moments were provided with the Beatles' 'Let it Be' played on the trombone, and Auld Lang Syne played on a one-stringed tennis racquet by Andrew White.

The early evening concert was brought to a close by The Coventry Carol, played by all three musicians.

Donations were collected in a tinsel-covered watering can, with gift-aid pledges being arranged by organiser Wynne Holcombe's husband.

Mrs White said: "The people of North Nibley should be congratulated on turning out in force to support this impromptu event."

The audience included many visitors, one of whom was from New Zealand, staying with family at Christmas.