A heartfelt call to the community was made on Sunday to the record-breaking crowd at the Deal Memorial Bandstand.

The plea for more volunteers and fund-raising help came from the new bandstand trust chairman John Perkins, who opened the annual concert by the Band of the Royal Marines Portsmouth.

He said: "We need to make the bandstand good for the next 10 years and need £15,000. We also need more committee members."

He told a packed Walmer Green that next year would be the 20th anniversary of the IRA bombing at the School of Music, when 11 Royal Marines were killed.

But Mr Perkins warned that the memorial bandstand needed works to the structure before the winter to bring it up to standard. He said a Friends group has been created and invited people to join, free of charge.

His plea for everyone on Sunday to give at least £3 to the collection buckets proved successful, as a record £8,100 was made from donations, the raffle and sale of souvenir mugs, although expenses will reduce the total.

The Mercury is backing the fund-raising appeal and will be featuring regular stories about its progress.

Cheques can be made payable to the Deal Bandstand Memorial Trust and sent to 1 The Old Cannery, Hengist Road, Deal CT14 6WY.