A GROUP of amateur musicians who recorded an album to benefit armed forces charities start their fundraising drive with a live gig on Saturday, July 1.

Royal British Legion volunteer Mick Woosnam, came up with the idea of a charity CD last year and had hoped to produce the disc in aid of the Legion in time for its annual Poppy Appeal.

But despite getting together with other amateur musicians and recording all the tracks at a studio in Bradford, they were unable to get the CD out in time due to a lack of funds.

Mr Woosnam, 72, of New Street Grove, Pudsey, said the group will now try to raise the funds needed themselves.

They will play live at a charity fundraiser day in celebration of the armed forces which is taking place at their local, The Royal Hotel, Pudsey.

Mr Woosnam also added that they needed to raise about £600 to cover the cost of producing 1,000 discs and the music rights licence required.

The group hope to raise some of the money at the gig, otherwise they will club together themselves, to ensure the album, entitled Remember, can be made available.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: "We want to get the album out and have decided it will benefit Help For Heroes, SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity and Blesma, a charity for limbless veterans.

"Hopefully we will manage to raise enough to get 1,000 CDs produced, and then we can start distributing them and asking for a donation.

"If we get some of the way there, it might end up with us having to dig into our pockets to make up the costs. But we have got so far with everyone giving their time free, so we want to make sure we can finish it."

The album was recorded at Step In Studios in West Bowling, Bradford, which was set up in association with McMillan Adventure Playground Association.

Phil Rhodes lent his expertise to the project free of charge, allowing the group to use the studios at the weekend.

There are ten tracks that will feature on the CD including three original songs. The remainder are covers, such as Donovan’s The Universal Soldier.