ONE of the country's leading church musicians and his two talented daughters have raised more than £1,000 for the Abbots Morton Bell Tower Appeal.

The Grier Trio played a special concert of classical music as a gift towards the £40,000 appeal for masonry work on the 14th century bell tower of Abbots Morton's Grade-1 listed church.

The concert was held in nearby Inkberrow Parish Church where Francis Grier used to practise the organ as a teenager when his parents lived in Redditch.

Mr Grier, aged 58, who now lives in North London, won a British Composer of the Year Award in 2012. He was married in Abbots Morton church 24 years ago and his sister still lives in the village, which is why he wanted to put on the concert free of charge.

Lynne Pemberton, a member of the Abbots Morton Bell Tower Committee, said: "More than 100 people bought tickets and they were treated to a wonderful concert .

"People have described it as 'spellbinding' and 'breathtaking'. The Grier Trio are hugely respected musicians and to have so much talent in one family is incredible. It was an honour to see and hear them."

Mr Grier used a grand piano especially hired in for the event from Vale Pianos and with his daughters Savitri, 21, on violin and Indira, 19, on cello, played a variety of works by Brahms, Mozart, Ligeti, and Franck plus a work composed by Mr Grier himself.

Along with £208 raised at a health, beauty and wellbeing evening in Abbots Morton village hall the Grio Trio's concert has pushed the bell tower repair fund to £34,432.