Crowds packed into a 50s theme restaurant as it introduced its first charity live music evening.

Frankie and Benny's, on Festival Leisure Park, Basildon, welcomed four local singers who performed while staff, who worked for nothing for charity, wore fancy dress.

Hitting the high note - Restaurant worker Arran sings to a table of diners Picture: DAVE HENDERSON

General manager, Leigh Thorne, said: "It was absolutely excellent, really fantastic. It is the first time we have had a live music evening and we are still counting the money. We think and hope we have raised about £600 for the Royal Lifeboat association.

"The restaurant was sold out by advanced bookings, especially for the live music, so we knew it was going to be busy.

"The staff were wonderful, the bar staff and the waiters worked for free and their wages went towards the cash we raised."

The staff were dressed up - the girls as Marilyn Monroe and the boys as Frank Sinatra. Out of the four singers, two work at the restaurant and two were from outside.

Published Tuesday October 29, 2002

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