A BLUES band comprised of local personalities entertained drinkers at a beer festival.

One of the members of the Vast Majorities, who played at The Crown, in Manfield, North Yorkshire, on Friday night, was Darlington borough councillor Cyndi Hughes.

She was celebrating her re-election to the council that day.

However, her husband, MEP Stephen Hughes, who normally sings and plays tenor saxophone, was delayed on a flight from Lisbon.

The band also features a number of teachers from Darlington, and ranges in age from 19 to 70.

Mrs Hughes, who is a Labour councillor, said: "It was an unbelievable evening. We raised almost £500 for St Teresa's Hospice.

"The audience was great, their generosity of pocket as well as spirit was amazing.

"It was very crowded. There must have been about 200 people in.

"It was a shame Stephen could not make it, but what was nice was a lot of my colleagues on the council from both sides came along. I think the Tories even put a minibus on.

"This is the fourth time we have done the beer festival and it is always a good time.

"The more people drink, the better we sound."