AN acoustic band gigging for charity has said it is overwhelmed at the generosity of Bolton shoppers.

The Travelling Strings, a multi-guitar band based in Chew Moor performed a number of classic 1950s, 1960s and 1970s hits such as Whiskey in the Jar at The Market Place on Saturday.

Brothers Chris and Tony Ward, Tim Eden, Steve Liptrot, Bob Atkinson, Les Beardworth and Colin O’Brien make up the acoustic seven-piece, which often play charity gigs around the Bolton area to help raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The charity is close to the heart of Chris and Tony Ward, whose father, also called Chris, died from the disease in May 2008.

Mr Ward said: “My dad was a great guy.

“I think he’d be made up with the amount of money that has been donated in his memory. It was a bad time for our family at that time but hopefully something good will come of it.

“I am overwhelmed at people’s generosity.

“People have been walking past and donating money in the buckets all afternoon. I think the charity has become more and more prominent because of the amount of people affected by Alzheimer’s.

"It’s not just the person who has it; it’s all the people around them too.”