The rock against cancer gig at All Cannings, headlined by Bob Geldof and his Boomtown Rats, has raised a record amount for charities.

The concert, on May 31, raised £35,000 and was 21 tickets short of being a 4,500 sell- out, the biggest attendance yet.

This was the third year of the gig and is the idea of John ‘Grubby’ Callis, sound engineer for Sir Paul McCartney and from Beechingstoke; Andy Scott, guitarist in The Sweet who lives in All Cannings, and Richard Baulu, landlord of the King’s Arms, All Cannings. They have all fought cancer.

As well as The Boomtown Rats, The Troggs, Los Pacaminos with Paul Young, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel and The Straits performed at the concert, plus for the first time this year there was a second stage for three up-and-coming bands.

The £35,000 raised included £10,000 paid by a fan for a guitar belonging to Steve Harley who surprised everyone by auctioning it at the concert.

On Monday, cheques of £14,000 each were presented to Above and Beyond, the charity that supports nine hospitals in Bristol by funding research and improving patient facilities, and Macmillan Cancer Support. A cheque for £7,000 was given to All Cannings Parish Council to use to fund projects in the parish.

The concert raised £30,000 in its first year for Cancer Research UK, Above and Beyond and projects in All Cannings while last year it raised £5,000, split between The Teenage Cancer Trust, Above and Beyond and projects in All Cannings.

Mr Baulu thanked all the crew and volunteers involved in this year’s concert.

Next year’s concert is on May 30.