LOCAL musicians and singers will head up a special benefit concert in Lancaster this weekend.

The aim is to commemorate the second anniversary of the Morecambe Bay cockle tragedy and raise cash to stage a performance of the acclaimed musical Shifting Sands' .

Lava, Howard Haigh's Latino guitar blues band, will lead the line-up at the Gregson Centre in Moor Lane, Lancaster, on Friday from 8.30pm.

Tickets are £5 and will be available at the door. Or to book in advance, call 01524-849959.

Shifting Sands was commissioned in 2004 by Lancaster City Council with funds from the Arts Council and was first performed last May by a community choir involving 100 singers including local schoolchildren.

The epic production aims to depict Morecambe's history from mediaeval pilgrims crossing the bay through to the 2004 cockle picking tragedy. It was also performed in London with great acclaim.

A series of events are further fund-raisers are planned later this year to fund the performance, including a cross bay walk.