A TALENTED four-piece band helped to raise more than £1,000 to help youngsters with cancer.

Band 4th Avenue, which is fronted by Britain’s Got Talent star Lauren Thalia raised £1,130 for a teenage cancer treatment day unit at Basingstoke hospital’s Charlie’s Day Unit.

Up to 150 people crammed into the Basingstoke Ex-Services Club, in New Road, for the hour-and-a-half set.

The band were supported by another young act, rock five-piece Type 2. The cash was raised through sales of the £4 tickets, and a raffle.

Lisa Graves, whose son Aidan, 12 is part of 4th Avenue alongside Tyrell Payne, 12, Cameron Streeter, 14, and 13-year-old Lauren, said she was amazed at the final total.

“It is a massive amount for kids to raise,” she said. “It exceeded all my expectations. When they first talked about it, they wanted to be able to buy an Xbox for the ward and they were looking at raising £300. But the final amount just blew everybody away.”

She thanked businesses which donated the 30 different prizes in the raffle. These included a £50 Festival Place voucher from AXA Wealth, £100 from Brackenwood Windows, and a prize from Sandford Springs Golf Club.

She also thanked the Ex-Services Club for hiring out the hall for free.