A Lympstone man, who battled back from a gullet disorder, is urging people to get behind his band’s charity concert.

Roger Riggs, 59, had achalasia, a condition that prevents food from passing into the stomach. It is a condition that affects 6,000 people in Britain.

The disease convinced Mr Riggs to put away his instruments and become the conductor of the Lympstone Training Band.

He said people who come to the Exmouth and Lympstone Hospsicare concert on Saturday, April 16, at Holy Trinity Church, from 7pm, are in for a treat.

“I had played in the Lympstone Band, which is now known as the South West Comms Band, for 40 years,” he said. “I had lost my progression, so I decided to teach brass band.

“We want people to come along and enjoy the music, but we also want them to donate, as it is important that Exmouth and Lympstone Hospiscare receive funding.”

The 59-year-old said they would teach anyone who could read music to play a brass instrument.

He added that 12-year-old Megan Newberry had progressed to the South West Comms Band.

For more information, contact Roger at lisariggs@talktalk.net.