IT WAS music to the ears for charities in Darlington when the proms were staged at the weekend.

This year's two-day event, staged at The Dolphin Centre, has raised money for worthy causes, including St Teresa's Hospice, Darlington MIND and The Corps of Army Music Trust.

The concerts, held on Friday and Saturday night, were organised by Music for Darlington - an organisation created to bring quality music to the town. Its first concert was held in 1993 to help fund the building of a day centre for Age Concern.

The Promenade for Youth concert, on Friday, featured performances by the Durham County Music Service Ensembles and combined orchestra and wind bands.

The Last Night of the Proms on Saturday included performances by the King's Division Waterloo Band, massed local choirs, principal soloist Ann Tallis and a performance by 16-year-old Charlotte Broadbent, from Eryholme, near Darlington, who won the 2005 Young Singer Competition.

Charlotte won the title last month in a competition, sponsored by Williams Music Group, to find outstanding young people to take part in Music for Darlington events.

The runner-up, Georgia McIntyre, 12, from Darlington, performed at the Promenade for Youth event. Vice-president for Music for Darlington, Ivor Shirley, who started the Darlington proms nine years ago, said: "Both nights were sell-outs and went really well. It was good for the performers to be playing to a full house."