A former West End star and The Voice contestant will launch a music group for youngsters on Friday at a coffee morning helping EllenorLions Hospices.

Leanne Jones, 28, from Gravesend, starred as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray and recently auditioned on BBC’s The Voice.

Now she is launching a pre-school music group to coincide with the next EllenorLions’ coffee morning at the hospice, in Coldharbour Road, Northfleet, 10am to noon.

Tots can have half an hour of fun at the Musical Monkeys preschool group for a donation of £1.

Leanne, a Laurence Olivier Award winner, is asking parents to bring along an old, empty water bottle so tots can make maracas.

The mother-of-one, of Portland Avenue, said: “I am very excited about holding this new preschool music group.

“The community is extremely fortunate to have a charity that provides wonderful care to seriously ill adults and children and their families.

“By coming along to the music group or coffee morning you’ll be helping that care and support.”