TALENTED fundraisers have been singing a merry tune to support a colleague suffering from breast cancer.

When music and modern languages teacher Irene Jones was struck down with the disease last autumn, staff at Stonehenge School decided to raise funds for the unit where she was treated.

They banded together to put on a music extravaganza, which made an impressive £770 for the Day Diagnostic Unit at Salisbury District Hospital.

"It was very important to me to raise some money for this specific unit because, although lots of fundraising goes on for cancer charities, far fewer events raise money for the department itself," said Irene.

"They deserve every penny because the standard of care I received there was absolutely wonderful.

"I couldn't have got through this without the support I got from the staff and other patients.

"But they need money for all sorts of things and I wanted to do my bit to say thank you."

After being diagnosed with the disease, Irene faced an operation, followed by five months of debilitating chemotherapy treatment and 25 sessions of intensive radiotherapy.

"It did make me very poorly but I was determined to carry on by going into school one day a week and planning this fundraising cabaret," she said.

"I finished my final treatment last week and now I just have to wait and hope that it has worked."

Despite still being exhausted from radiotherapy, 55-year-old Irene wanted to get fully involved with the concert at the Amesbury school.

"Three of us sang on stage and I explained to everyone why we were there," she said.

"It was a very emotional night, three staff from the hospital came and all my colleagues and the parents were very supportive."

More than 100 guests enjoyed a varied programme, including songs from ICT manager Kurt Cooper and music teacher Tracy Roberts, who helped to organise the show.

"We are lucky to have a very talented bunch here at the Stonehenge School," Tracy said.

"We had a wide range of musical styles and a buffet and bar to make sure it went with a swing.

"The event had a wonderful atmosphere and we were absolutely delighted that we raised so much money for this very special cause."