A "FANTASTIC" concert has raised at least £6,000 for the Kemp Hospice Appeal.

Organiser Jane Dunn hailed the packed Young Proms event as a "happy, feelgood night" that pulled in £1,000 more than expected.

A sell-out crowd of nearly 500 enjoyed the entertainment, "brilliantly" compered by CBI director general Digby Jones, which included songs by Gilbert and Sullivan and traditional favourites like Land of Hope and Glory.

Mrs Dunn said the audience was stunned by the professional performance from the eight musicians whose average age was just 17.

"People just couldn't get over it - we've been inundated with phone calls and letters. People have come up to me saying we'll be coming to the next one," she added

"One elderly lady who had paid £6.50 for her ticket said it was the best night out she'd had in years and was making a further donation to Kemp!"

Kidderminster College lecturer Mrs Dunn, who put on the January 18 bash at Kidderminster Town Hall, with husband Chris, thanked the Shuttle/Times and News for its "excellent" publicity.

"The paper undoubtedly helped with ticket sales," she said.

Mrs Dunn is an old friend of the CBI chief, who has also supported St Mary's Hospice in Birmingham.

Two tickets - one to see Manchester United and the other for Aston Villa - made £500 in an auction hosted by Mr Jones, which helped boost the total raised to a minimum of £6,000.

Further cash is set to roll in when a video of the evening is put on sale later this year.

Mrs Dunn pledged that the young stars - who included her daughter Beth - would be back on stage, probably next January.