A PUB is putting on a charity entertainment evening to help the homeless this Christmas.

The Bell, in Braintree, is hosting a piano and singing evening to raise money for Chess – Churches Homeless Emergency Support Scheme – a UK homeless charity based in Chelmsford.

The charity works to ensure people who become homeless are supported and keep healthy.

The fundraiser takes place this Saturday at 8pm with singer and pianist Tony Kerley performing alongside fellow vocalists Lorraine Jones and Anna Williams.

Tony has been performing for more 40 years and is really looking forward to the event.

He said: “Lorraine and Anna have both been singing for many years too so we will have a good mix of song-along songs from the last six decades.

“We’re hoping the locals will be in good voice and have their dancing shoes with them.

“We are all really excited to be playing the gig in aid of Chess homeless charity – especially in the lead up to Christmas.”

The pub will be also trying out new technology, allowing pub-goers to use QR codes to request songs from the comfort of their table.

Bell manager Jacqui Coldron said: “Tony contacted me about doing the acoustic gig at the Bell and explained he is supporting homeless charity Chess and by gigging in pubs he hopes to raise funds.

“I asked him if he was free to come in December and after meeting him, we decided to run it as a charity event to try and help the homeless, especially at Christmas.”

The Bell has hosted several previous charity events, most recently in September when money was raised for the Brain and Spinal Injury Foundation.

The event was in support of three-year-old Henley Rogers, who was diagnosed with the illness earlier this year.

Organisers raised a whopping £3,152.

Jacqui said the Bell wants to do as many charity events as it can.

She said: “Our aim is for the pub to become a community hub.

“We just want to make a difference where we can.”