BANDS invaded Bury town centre for the town’s inaugural Oxjam Takeover, with the musical celebration raising £1,500 for Oxfam.

Blind Tiger, in Bolton Street, The Flying Shuttle, in Clerke Street and Joqux O’the Rock, on The Rock, hosted 21 performers during the mini music festival last Saturday.

Bands and artists included Ramsbottom singer Colin Barkley, teenage Prestwich three-piece The Rocket and Bury Church of England High School Charlotte Hackett.

Also performing were Preston punk/pop group Next Stop Atlanta, who have been featured by BBC Introducing.

The music festival, part of a nationwide campaign which saw events take place all over the country last weekend, was run entirely by volunteers.

Katie Cope, aged 26, volunteer marketing co-ordinator said organisers had been amazed at how receptive the Bury community had been to the takeover.

She added: “It was a very successful event and we would like to thank everybody who came down for supporting the Oxjam Takeover and celebrating such a fantastic cause.

“We have had lots of support from local businesses and people living in Bury, and we are truly grateful for all the help we have received. We could not have done it without them.”

Oxjam Bury’s final fundraiser is a choir concert at Bury Parish Church on Saturday October 19.

Two choirs, Inspire Community Voices and Bury Community Choir, will be performing at the event at 7.30pm, with tickets costing £5 on the door.

For more details: go to oxjambury.co.uk/takeover, follow @OxjamBury on Twitter, or search Oxjam Bury Takeover on Facebook.

To purchase tickets for the choir concert: go to wegottickets.com/event/243252