PEOPLE came out in droves over the weekend to enjoy the sunshine, music and a barbecue at a fundraising day held by a Trowbridge pub for the Wiltshire Times 150 Fund.

Nearly £500 was raised at the event, which took place at the Twelve Bells pub, in Seymour Road, on Easter Sunday.

Landlord Don Holden said: "Over the years the pub has raised quite a lot of money for the MS Society but I felt that if we were going to do this it was about time we put something back into the local community."

The idea for the day grew out of a weekly jam session that has been running at the pub every Thursday for 18 months.

Jeff Campbell, who began the sessions, suggested an event to raise money for charity and another musician suggested the 150 Fund after reading about it in the Wiltshire Times.

The idea was to invite local bands to play during the afternoon and evening and to fill in any gaps with jam sessions.

In the end seven bands came along to play, including five bands Harvey, The Zig Zag Band, Cursus, The Shakey Band and the Butt Monkeys that all started off at the jam sessions.

They were joined by MGB and The Usual Suspects as well as the Warminster and Garrison Tartan and Green Pipes and Drums, led by Brian Shanahan.

The musical side of the day was co-ordinated by Brian Bull and Mark Wheeler.

The pub was packed with regulars and new faces drawn in by the promise of great music.

All dipped into their pockets to fill a collection bucket after the bands played and to join in a raffle and an auction.

Mr Holden said: "Everyone was generous. We passed the bucket around after every two bands and no-one complained about being asked again."

Raffle and auction prizes were donated by First Call Skips, Trowbridge Cricket Club, the Co-op, Greene King, Madcap Music, the Golden Wok, ASDA, Rapid Fix, Virgin and the Wiltshire Times.

People tucked into sausages and burgers, and games, quizzes and Easter eggs kept the children entertained.

Mr Holden said: "Everyone deserves a pat on the back. It went so well and the best thing about it was all the musicians really enjoyed it as well as the people who came along."

Everyone is welcome to come along and join in the jam sessions at the pub on Thursdays and Mr Holden is already planning the next all-day event, the proceeds of which he plans to donate to the 150 Fund.

THERE are hundreds of small groups and organisations in west Wiltshire doing good work to keep our communities thriving.

These groups are unable to get help from large organisations because they are too small or are not registered charities.

The sums they need are small, less than £100, and with this in mind the Wiltshire Times has set up a grant fund to help these groups as part of our 150th birthday celebrations.

The Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation, a registered charity, will manage the fund for us.

If you are planning to organise events such as a sponsored swim or a tug-of-war we will be able to help with publicity and add to our 150 Fund into the bargain.

Contact the newsdesk on (01225) 352483.