An emotional appeal on a local radio station by EDP Editor Nigel Pickover to support the newly-launched Flood Appeal struck a chord with a member of a Sixties tribute band.

As a result a special gig will be held in Burnham Market in the New Year with all the proceeds going to the EDP fund to help communities hit by the devastating tidal surge on the Norfolk and north Suffolk coast.

Co-founder of the band the 6Ts, Matt Gray, said he heard Mr Pickover being interviewed on Radio Cambridgeshire.

'He explained how the EDP had set up the Norfolk and Lowestoft Flood Appeal and he was asking for donations to help swell the fund,' he said.

'We felt we must do something. We do a fair amount of work in Norfolk, especially Wells-next-the-Sea, and our lead vocalist Adam Thompsett is born and bred King's Lynn lad. When I called him and suggested the idea of a gig to raise funds he said, 'Let's do it'.'

Within two hours they had found a venue, Sussex Barns in Burnham Market, who agreed to let them use it free of charge while a phone call to Cheverton & Son printers in Cromer was received with an offer of printing the tickets, also free of charge.

Mr Gray added: 'The venue holds 350, which is a tall order to sell out but we felt we had to have a go. January 4 was the only Saturday the band had free until June and as the venue was available we decided to go for it, even though it only gives us a couple of weeks to get the word out.

'Every penny generated from ticket sales will go to the fund. We thought firms might like to buy a table of 10 for a late Christmas party.

'It promises to be a fantastic night. Other people have said they want to come on board so we want to hold a raffle and maybe an auction.'

Mr Gray said the Cambridgeshire-based 6Ts are no strangers to fund-raising events having collected over £65,000 in the past nine years for charity.

'We have a great following throughout East Anglia,' he said. 'We have also played the Cavern Club in Liverpool and just recently supported The Fortunes, as well as headlining many festivals and carnivals in East Anglia.'

Jane Thompson, who owns Sussex Barns, said she had no hesitation in offering the venue for the special event.

'We live in Brancaster so we know many people who have been totally under water in their homes and shops,' she said. 'Some people are a lot worse off and have lost their homes altogether. We were happy to let them have the barn and hope lots of people come along.'

* The Flood Appeal gig is on Saturday, January 4 at Sussex Barns, Burnham Market, 7.30pm till midnight.

Tickets cost £10 from Jane on 01485 210000 or Val on 01485 211003.