A group of city buskers put their instruments to good use by raising thousands for Ukrainian relief in just a matter of hours.

The Winchester Uke Jam took to the High Street at midday on Friday (March 4) for a special 'Ukes For Ukraine' busk in a bid to raise money for the British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal.

The group of talented ukulele enthusiasts collected a staggering £3,145 in just two and a half hours in what has been described as an “extraordinary achievement” by the group’s leader, Andrew Martin.

Mr Martin, 68, who has been teaching the instrument for several years, said: “It all came together really quickly, on Tuesday I thought to myself, ‘I have to do something, I have to help somebody somehow’. I’m not a doctor, nor am I a soldier or politician, but I can play the ukulele, so I put a message out to my group to say that I’d be playing at the bus cross on Friday if anybody wanted to join and it just went from there.

“I did a head count on the day, and I think around 58 people turned up, we stood down there for around two and a half hours and the money is still coming in.”

This isn’t the first time Mr Martin and co have used their ukes to raise money for those in need.

In 2015 they took to the streets in the wake of a devastating earthquake in Nepal which killed 8,964 people and injured 21,952 more, raising around £850 in the process, a target Mr Martin didn’t expect to exceed.

“At the time I remember thinking, ‘wow this was amazing’, which it was, and going into Friday I felt that if we could get anywhere close to that figure again it would be fantastic - but it has just absolutely blown up. I’m amazed, and it’s all down to the people of Winchester digging deep and my groups chipping in as well.”

Mr Martin says the Winchester Uke Jam will be hosting another show dedicated to those in Ukraine on March 24 at Winchester Rugby Club, who have kindly waived the £200 venue fee to support the cause.

If you wish to make an online donation to the British Red Cross in their appeal for Ukraine, you can do so at donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal.