A Valentine’s night of music and dancing will raise money for war-stricken regions across the world when a popular RAF band plays in Ely.

The RAF Wyton Big band will play hits from the 40s, 50s and 60s on Saturday, February 15, at the Hayward Theatre in King’s School, Ely.

The evening has been organised by the Rotary Club of Ely and will help to fund polio vaccinations worldwide.

The RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band was originally formed in 1955 by Flight Sergeant John Gordon.

In addition to volunteers from almost every trade in the Royal Air Force, band members include instrumentalists from the Royal Navy, the Army, the MoD Civil Service and the local community, with every member giving up their own time to play.

Current Membership includes skilled musicians from RAF Stations Brampton, Wyton and Wittering in Cambridgeshire, Marham in Norfolk, Cottesmore in Rutland and Henlow in Bedfordshire.

The band undertakes a wide variety of engagements every year, ranging from formal concerts to military parades.

Concert venues have recently included St James’s Park London, Burgess Hall in St Ives and the Commemoration Hall in Huntingdon.

Three CDs have been recorded in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and have sold more than 1,000 copies each in aid of charity and Band funds.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets cost £13.50 each, or £48 for a group of four, and are available from Burrows Bookshop or J & J Wade opticians.

Money raised will be sent to help prevent polio in war-stricken regions such as Syria.