A MAJOR fundraising concert is to be staged at York Barbican to help victims of the floods.

The event, to be called 'Hold Back The River', will take place at 7pm on Sunday March 6.

Tickets will cost £10 for adults, and £8 concessions, with almost the entire proceeds going to the York Flood Disaster Fund.

Graham Bradbury, who organises the annual Community Carol Concert at the Barbican each December, said he had been asked if he would coordinate a similar event to raise funds for the flood appeal.

He said acts which had so far agreed to take part included the Shepherd Group Band and the York Civic Youth Choir, and various other artistes had been approached to see if they were available.

Mr Bradbury, of Copmanthorpe, who has also organised Lord Mayor's Galas and assisted with York Rocks Against Cancer concerts at the Grand Opera House, told how he had seen on the TV about the floods, and then walked down Fossgate and seen the state of some of the affected businesses, and decided he wanted to do something.

"I has been mulling it over when I got a call from Mike Pratt, who conducts the Shepherd Concert Band and also conducted our Carol Concert last month, and who said the Shepherd Group Band wanted to do something to help, and I decided to approach the Barbican, who were more than helpful and very willing to assist."

Barbican general manager Mark Scott said: "We’re really excited about the prospect of the charity concert Graham is organising.

"It means a lot to us to be able to hold a function that will help to raise money for the people who have had their lives turned upside down by the extreme flooding we have experienced in the city.

"Our thoughts go out to all those affected by the floods in York and the surrounding areas, and we are honoured to be part of a community that pulls together, helps each other, and gets the job done in times of need."