AN ALTRINCHAM-based group of fundraising buskers has every reason to make a song and dance about things this week.

For Loose Change Buskers is celebrating raising more than £250,000 for Cancer Research UK, just six years after being formed to boost the charity.

The band raked in £3,200 at Tesco stores in Stretford, Altrincham and Baguley over a recent weekend to smash though the landmark figure - taking the total raised to more than £253,000.

Group founder Bernard Dolan said: "We are thrilled with the amount of money we have raised."

The group has become a familiar sight to shoppers in town centres throughout the borough since it was founded in 2010 by Timperley resident Bernard and his friend and fellow musician, John Fogel, from Altrincham, who were both members of a guitar club.

The inspiration came after someone brought a leaflet into the guitar club about busking for cancer.

Bernard and John took up the idea, and got a group of musicians together. They made their first appearance at the Stamford Quarter in Altrincham - and have never looked back.

Bernard said: "Everyone enjoyed it so much we just carried on."

The band has gone from strength to strength and there are now about 30 musicians who play for it.

Bernard says cancer touches many people, including the band. Two of their members who have died of the disease have helped to inspire their efforts.

Bernard said: "One of our players, Mike Moratos, was suffering with skin cancer, but he still came out busking until he was too ill. He died of the disease.

"Our best player, Dave Shannon, died of lung cancer three years ago.

"These men were an inspiration to us and we will continue in their memory, rain or shine."

Bernard said that every penny they collect goes to Cancer Research UK, with all the buskers paying their own expenses.

They are having a celebration party on May 15 to mark the fundraising achievement.

But they are not resting on their laurels and have no plans to stop performing.

"We will carry on until we can't, for whatever reason."

Paula Jones, senior local fundraising manager for Cancer Research UK in the North West, said: “We’d like to say a massive thank you to the Loose Change Buskers who have just celebrated raising an incredible £250,000 for Cancer Research UK. Thanks go to all the musicians and collectors who, over the years, have been out in all weathers, in and around South Manchester to raise money to fund our vital research.

“Thanks to research more people are surviving cancer than ever - but there is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure that more families can stay together for longer.

"Cancer Research UK funds research to help beat 200 types of cancer. The charity funded nearly £20million of research in Manchester last year.”