Former Winstanley College student Sophie Tickle raised an astonishing £2,600 in one emotional but entertaining evening in aid of Myeloma UK.

It was myeloma - a malignant bone cancer - which ended her mother Janice's life at the tragically early age of 43.

Sophie, from Springfield Lane, Eccleston, St Helens, says the show had been long in the planning, even pre-dating her mum's death in July 2006, her having been diagnosed with the illness the previous autumn.

The 18-year-old, who is about to study drama at Exeter University, drafted in singing and acting student chums from both Winstanley College and De La Salle School in St Helens (where she was a pupil) to perform solos and duets from a wide range of musicals. She was helped in the concert's organisation by her dad Ste and 13-year-old brother Adam.

The event, at St Julie's Parish Church Hall, Eccleston, saw almost 200 locals, family and friends of Sophie and the other performers give the players a rousing reception.

With Tim Bond on piano, they gave renditions of hits from shows including Les Miserables, Chicago, Cabaret, Joseph, Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story.

The audience was charged £10 a ticket for an evening which also included a hotpot supper, raffle and auction with some excellent donated prizes including St Helens rugby memorabilia, free meals and gym passes.

Sophie said: "It went so well that I am thinking of doing it all again, perhaps making it an annual event. So many people have come up to me and said that if they had known it was going to be that good they would have brought along loads of other people.

"We have raised £2,600 so far and the figure is still rising because people are making donations just because they heard about the show afterwards.

"I hope my mum would have been pleased with it all."