Maryport Navy Club was £1,500 better off before the first not was sung at its fundraising music day on Saturday.

An anonymous donor kickstarted the fundraising, adding significantly to the success of the day.

A spokesman said: "We were delighted by this person's generosity."

Artists gave their time and talents to support the club which is trying to raise the estimated £15,000 needed to pay legal fees in a bit to save it from closure.

There was non-stop music from 2pm until late.

"There would have been about 300 people in the club at any one time and they came and went so it is difficult to say how many attended altogether," the spokesman said.

Local photographer and music lover Jan Fialkowski said he had never seen the club that full.

"It was a fantastic day!"

The event was free but the club made over £500 in raffles and cake sales.

Maryport Navy Club secretary Tracy Messenger said a another similar event would be held in June.

She said it was essential that the funds be raised: "We have a very strong case for keeping this venue open and we need to be able to pay the solicitors."

The club has been threatened with closure for more than a year since members of the Maryport branch of the Royal Naval Association, who claim ownership, said they wanted to close the club and sell the building with proceeds going to local organisations.