AN orchestra has raised £500 for charity at a school Christmas concert.

Maldon Orchestra was in action with the Chelmsford Male Voice Choir at King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford.

Funds go to several charities, including Kids Inspire, the RSPB and Chelmsford Food Bank.

Maldon Orchestra gave £500 to their nominated charity – the Salvation Army.

A spokesman said: “The concert programme included festive tunes from both the choir and orchestra plus additional performances from the vocalists Pedro Lopes and Kirsty Richards.

“The choir and orchestra enthralled an audience of 330 people with renditions of the Hallelujah Chorus and Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride as a combined force of 95 performers.”

The orchestra, conducted by Ron Bewers, also performed Fairytale of New York, A Holst Christmas and Overture to a Merry Christmas.