One of the county's biggest nights of music, which returns this summer, is to support a charity staging a colourful trail in Kent next month featuring Elmer the Elephant.

The Leeds Castle Concert, which will be held near Maidstone on Saturday, July 10, has chosen the Aylesford-based Heart of Kent Hospice as its charity for the night.

The hospice, which provides specialist compassionate care to more than 1,700 people with a terminal illness and those closest to them each year at a cost of £5 million, is running Elmer's Big Heart of Kent Parade from Saturday, June 19.

All the partners for this year’s concert at the castle near Maidstone, are also supporting the charity separately by taking part in the parade, sponsoring one of the 51 decorated elephants which will be on parade around the town until Sunday, August 22.

At the concert, audience members give donations to the chosen charity, with this year's going towards helping provide the Heart of Kent Hospice is a Kent based charity which provides essential, free of charge care.

Karen Newton-Anker, community partnerships fundraiser at the hospice, said: “We are absolutely delighted to learn that Heart of Kent Hospice will be the charity beneficiary of the Leeds Castle Classical Concert. 2021 is our 30th anniversary year and we look forward to using this event to raise awareness of the range of support we can provide local families, and to fundraise for our hospice.”

Managing partner of headline sponsor Brachers, Joanna Worby, added: “Elmer has promoted positive messages about inclusivity, courage and friendship to generations of children. As a firm, we... are delighted to get behind a cause with such positive values we believe help make a difference.”

This summer's event will open with Down for the Count swing orchestra, while the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists will be performing a mix of much-loved classical favourites and orchestral arrangements of popular songs. Field-guns, an iconic Spitfire display and firework finale will top off the concert.

For tickets, go to LeedsCastleConcert.co.uk or call 0845 652 6262.

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