A RAIL company boss got fundraising off to a flying start when he helped launch an unusual charity venture.

Arriva Trains Northern's managing director Ray Price and head office colleagues briefly put down their pens, picked up musical instruments and recorded a

fundraising CD to raise cash for the Railway Children charity.

The band, known as The Arrivas, first got together to play at the launch of the company's Live The Pool campaign at The Beatle Story museum, which offers passengers travelling to Liverpool by rail savings on a range of the city's tourist attractions.

To mark the launch, the band, which comprises Ray Price on lead guitar and vocals, Tony Hargrave on bass and vocals, Lucy Harrington on keyboards, Mike McMurrough on drums and Rob Gamble on rhythm guitar, played a gig for employees involved in the campaign at the famous Cavern Club on the 40th anniversary of The Beatles' first number one hit Please Please Me.

Following this, a CD of the band performing two tracks - Bob Dylan's Knocking On Heaven's Door and Chuck Berry's Bye Bye Johnny - has been produced. The CD will be given to Arriva employees who would like a copy in return for a £3 donation to the Railway Children charity.

Mr Price said: "The move from railways to records is a very brief one! I am sure it will surprise a lot of people to see me and colleagues in such a different way - but if making the CD helps raise funds for such an excellent charity it will all be worthwhile."

Updated: 15:24 Thursday, March 27, 2003