SHOPPERS showed their appreciation for a popular Darlington band by digging deep when members performed in Sainsbury’s.

Instrumentalists from the Cockerton Prize Silver Band lent a festive air to the weekly food shop when they performed a selection of festive favourites in the supermarket on Victoria Road on Sunday.

Their efforts were rewarded by shoppers donating £777 during the performance throughout the late morning and early afternoon.

Band chairman John Steel was delighted with the response and said: “We understand that people have financial pressures, especially at Christmas time, and so we do appreciate what people put in the bucket for us.

“People think it goes on beer and sandwiches, but in actual fact everything we get goes into the band funds to buy new instruments and music.”

The band has had a typically busy festive period, including performing at Darlington’s reindeer parade and the Christmas Market launch, and members will be playing at supermarkets in Newton Aycliffe and Norton in the coming week.

Their highlight concert takes place in Darlington on Wednesday where the band will play on their home turf, the Cockerton Band and Musical Institute on Woodland Road.

The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £4 on the door, with demand likely to be high.