FIVE fundraising Cockermouth children brightened up the day of passing shoppers as they busked in the town this afternoon.

The youngsters are part of All Saints' School recorder group, which is taught by Brian Melville, who accompanied them on keyboards (once the rain eased!).

Brian said: "I have been working with the children in the recorder group for four years and this is the final week at All Saints for four of them.

"They asked me if they could do a final 'gig', playing in public, so I agreed and suggested that they could go busking for a charity of their own choosing.

"Unsurprisingly they chose Children in Need."

The talented youngsters, who played in Lowther Went, are: Sophie Crawford, Eleanor Mitchellhill, Caitlin Sands and Matilda Bridgman, all 11, and Toby Heppell, 10.

They have a substantial repertoire, ranging from Mozart, Vivaldi and Beethoven to film themes from Rocky, Beverly Hills Cop, James Bond and Star Wars.

They also do songs by Abba, Queen and The Police.

"They are an exceptional little group and would easily hold their own in an older group, for example in secondary school," said Mr Melville.

"I will be very sorry indeed to lose them."