A group of musicians have put their talents together to show their support to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Richard Phillips, a 67-year-old film producer from Newington, decided to create the adaptation of John Lennon’s song, Give Peace a Chance, with his fellow performers following the Russian invasion.

He said: “It was a spur of the moment thing. There is a group of us and we’re all in the same gig circuit, so we caught up and it was just suggested that we should use our talents to raise awareness about what is going on in Ukraine.”

Richard, who owns film-making company Reel Entertainment, also got in touch with his friend, a narrator called David Whiting.

The 67-year-old from Biggin Hill is an actor people may recognise from last year’s Amazon Prime Christmas Advert, where he can be watched releasing a CGI hyena from a zoo, building an unlikely friendship with it.

He said: “I’m usually just an actor, I don’t usually narrate, but this was something that is in everyone’s hearts so I jumped at the opportunity.”

At the beginning of the music video David explains the stark reality of events in Ukraine and urges other people to sing along, like others do later on in the film, saying ‘many voices move mountains’.

Richard also asked for a Gillingham Children’s and Community Choir and Gospel Band to sing on the track alongside lead vocalist, 41-year-old Mayowa Oyinloye known professionally as MJPraise.

She said: “I felt honoured to be part of the performance and the end project.”

As the owner of the independent film company Richard was able to put edit the footage all together.

He said: “It wasn’t designed to bring in donations as I know money is tight for people at the moment.

“I just wanted it to be used in a way to get the community involved with what is happening, to make it a talking point.”

Alongside Richard was performer Paul Messenger, also known as One Love from Margate, David Shepherd, from Herne Bay, who plays around 200 gigs a year and Roy Golding from Rainham.

The song was recorded at the Big Jam Studio in Castle Road, Sittingbourne with the music video filmed at Broadstairs pub The George.

In the film a group of men can be seen discussing the war before the music begins.

Mr Messenger, who has performed in Eastchurch and many at many other gigs across the county explained: “That section was to really show the reality of people discussing what is happening and how it should be a talking point.”

To watch the video on YouTube click here.