A NORTH East music enthusiast is organising a second large-scale concert following the success of a debut event which raised £20,000 for charity.

Paul Williams of Darlington works as a fan website administrator for eighties band The Specials and decided to combine his love of music with raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

He launched a project called ‘Specialized’ which culminated in a three-day music event in Dorset last October and a 40-track CD released online which featured stars of bands including Madness and the Fine Young Cannibals.

Mr Williams hopes to repeat the project’s success this year and is busy organising a ‘Specialized Big One Two’ event to take place in Sandford, Dorset, in November, as well as releasing a new CD.

Mr Williams said: “I am quite well-known on the ska music scene so when I had the idea I just thought I’d ask around and see what happened, and the response was overwhelming.”

Artists including The Kosmos and Big Fat Panda are among those lined up to record tracks for the CD, and the music festival will be headlined by eighties two-tone band The Beat.

Mr Williams said he struggled to find a venue to hold the festival in the North East, but says he hopes to stage an event in Darlington next year.

More details of the project can be found at www.specializedproject.co.uk.