IPSWICH: Kind-hearted choristers are honing their voices for what promises to be an eclectic night of classic and contemporary song.

Final preparations are underway for the seventh annual charity concert at St Augustine’s Church – this year in aid of Ipswich Hospital’s Happy Heart Appeal.

Organisers are hoping to raise enough funds to help buy a new cardiac scanner for children with heart complaints.

And they have plenty of support from youngsters at Rushmere Hall Primary School, who have been busy doing there bit by selling cakes for the cause.

The children will also line up next to adult singers from choral societies and music groups across Ipswich and the surrounding area tonight for what is billed as a sweet-sounding fusion of classical song and modern popular tunes from the 1930s to the present day.

Conductor and regular organiser, Derek Smith, said: “The choir gave so generously over the six-week period of intensive rehearsal prior to the concert.

“The chosen charity this year is the Happy Heart Appeal. The provision of equipment will enhance the hospital’s status rating as well as providing the necessary equipment for children in need of cardiac treatment.

“This year children from Rushmere Hall’s excellent Singing Squad will be taking part. They are extremely entertaining and have an impressive ukulele band, which will also perform on the night.”

Alison Levridge, specialist music teacher at Rushmere Hall, said: “The charity concert has given the pupils a chance to think about other children who might be there age and need hospital care.

“Rather than just sing, we wanted to do something special and the children baked 200 cakes for the appeal which they sold. They also held a ‘guess how many sweets in the jar’ game and a ‘guess the name of the teddy game’ and raised around �100.”

The charity concert will begin at 7.30pm at St Augustine’s Church. Tickets are �7.50 and available from either Tony Wright on 01473 420848 or Keith Salmon on 01473 725700.