PRIME Minister Tony Blair and wife Cherie joined the choristers of Salisbury Cathedral just before Christmas to help raise money for a cancer charity.

The couple were among 420 people who revelled late into the night at Freddie's Festive Fundraiser, in the grounds of Salisbury's Cathedral School, to help boost the coffers of Sargent Cancer Care for Children.

Cherie Booth, the prime minister's wife, is patron of the charity.

The event was organised by Lola Vardigans, after her family received enormous support from the charity following her 12-year-old son Freddie's diagnosis with Ewing's Sarcoma earlier in the year.

"Cherie made a fantastic speech and the whole evening was absolutely wonderful," said Mrs Vardigans, who lives in Milford Hill. "We think we've raised more than £85,000, which is staggering."

The event had sold out rapidly and Mrs Vardigans had to hire additional marquee space to accommodate the demand for tickets.

Guardian sketchwriter Simon Hoggart was MC for the evening and the PM was persuaded to pick up a guitar and jam with the band Route 66, as guests boogied the night away.

This story was omitted from last week's paper due to a technical error.