SINGERS were rocking around the clock this weekend - at a fundraising event with a difference.

Members of Trinity Methodist Church congregation took part in a 24-hour sponsored hymnathon in a bid to raise cash to rebuild their meeting place.

The Norton church was devastated by fire in February, and since then volunteers have been hard at work raising cash to go towards the new project.

The Rev Stewart Young, who took part in the singing at Saville Street Methodist Church, in Malton, said: "It went really well, we sang round the clock.

"There were people constantly there and organiser Di Keal stayed for the entire 24 hours - that was tremendous.

"I started it off and stayed until about 10.30pm, then I nipped off for a couple of hours sleep before coming back again.

"It would have been all right with everyone else falling asleep in the sermon on Sunday, but it would have been a bit noticeable if I had."

Mr Young said he wanted to thank members of the Salvation Army band, who came along between midnight and 2am to give the singers a huge boost.

And as the fundraisers continued singing their way through hundreds of hymns until 7pm on Saturday, shoppers popped in to see how they were doing.

Rev Young added: "We really have no idea how much was raised yet, because a lot of people were sponsored and they need to collect it in."

Updated: 09:28 Wednesday, October 02, 2002