From a Finnish heavy metal band to an Austrian drag queen, the eccentric acts and glamorous sets of the Eurovision Song Contest have secured millions of fans around the globe.

But few are as dedicated as David Mann and Richard Taylor, who travelled hundreds of miles to Wales to take part in a 24-hour charity eurovision radio-thon.

The duo stepped up to the mic for a slot on the Eurovision W12P - Wales 12 Points - radio show, which is hosted by Glen Bartlett, during the day-long charity event on Saturday, January 24.

For Mr Mann, of Elise Way in Wymondham, and Mr Taylor, of Downham Market, it was a chance to share their interest with like-minded fans.

Mr Mann, a Mid-Norfolk Railway volunteer, said: 'From my point of view what is so great about it that it brings people from all over the world together. I'm old enough to remember when they wore evening gowns and it was polite applause at the shows - now, it's like a football match with people jumping and screaming.'

The radio-thon was in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, an important cause to Mr Mann, 59, who lost his father to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

So far the friends, who met through their interest in the song contest, have helped the charity event raise more than £1,650.

'As well as the team in the studio, we had guests on from across the globe,' 31-year-old Mr Taylor said. 'Amazingly, there are Eurovision fans in Canada, the USA, Venezuela and Peru and there's a huge following in Australia too.'

The show even welcomed former UK entrant Scott Fitzgerald, who narrowly missed out on Eurovision victory in 1988 - to Celine Dion.

And while Mr Mann said he wasn't there for the 1988 show, he has been able to grab a front row view for the contest in later years.

'The first time I went was in 2003, when I went to the final and then I went again in, 2011, 2013 and 2014,' he said.

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