WIRRAL ukulele players were among more than 100 who performed in a mass singalong of the classic lullaby You Are My Sunshine for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity's Go Green appeal at the weekend.

Crowds joined in singing and dancing during the open-air ukelele jam in Liverpool city centre on Saturday afternoon.

Starting with You Are My Sunshine, they were joined by members of the public who had brought ukuleles along as they continued the with Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues, followed by the Morecambe & Wise theme tune Bring Me Sunshine, which was written in 1966 by Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee.

Bands taking part were the Splintered Ukes, Broken Strings from Wirral, D'Ukes of Hazzard, the Secret Ukulele Band, Ukulele Club Liverpool, Ormskirk Ukulele Band, Wirral Ukulele Fanatics from Wirral, the YinYanBand, Uke n Dream and the Travelling Wannabes.

They were also joined by solo artists Jensen Parker and Miss Stan.

The event, organised to celebrate World Ukulele Day, raised hundreds of pounds for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity's Go Green appeal, which aims to raise £15m to help fund a new cancer hospital in Liverpool and make improvements to the hospital in Wirral.

As well as raising funds for the charity, the Liverpool World Ukulele Day organisers hoped to encourage more people to pick up the instrument.

They also hoped to raise awareness of other ukulele events happening in the region including the annual Summer Strum, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary at Hoylake rugby club in July.

Among those taking part in Saturday's performance was Pat Ross-Davies, from Newton, singer with Wirral band Broken Strings who also helped organise the event and co-founded the Summer Strum ukulele festival with fellow Broken Strings musician Emma Owen five years ago.

Pat said: "It was wonderful to put a smile on so many people’s faces, and for such a good cause which is so close to so many people's hearts.

"A massive thank you to all of the ukulele players who took part and everybody who donated money for their generosity.

"Ukulele is wonderful for improving wellbeing, and giving people a sense of purpose.

"It creates new friendships and spreads waves of positivity throughout the community, and we hope to see that continue through the year."

The idea to get the city smiling with Saturday's singalong was inspired by the late Beatle George Harrison's love of the ukulele.

He wrote: "Everybody should have and play a 'uke'.

"It's so simple to carry with you and it is one instrument you can't play and not laugh!"

The bands hope to encourage more people to pick up the instrument, enjoy music and maybe join one of Merseyside’s growing number of ukulele clubs and bands.

The D'Ukes of Hazzard band leader Dave Cornett, from Bebington, said: "Ukulele brings joy to so many people, we just wanted to spread a bit of that happiness.

"Liverpool did us proud with a really fun celebration. It was a joy to be a part of."

"We would love it if anyone who enjoyed the day would like to learn ukulele there are lots of clubs and groups around where you can join in and have a go."

Proceeds will go to Clatterbridge Cancer Charity's campaign to raise £15million for construction of a new specialist hospital in Liverpool city centre and improvements to the Wirral site.

You Are My Sunshine was first recorded in 1939 by country band the Pine Ridge Boys from Atlanta, USA and has been covered by numerous major artists including Doris Day, Nat King Cole, Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, Bryan Ferry Carly Simon and Yusuf Islam.

For more information on the ukulele day, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/2165151760468360/

For more on the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity Appeal visit: www.clatterbridgecc.nhs.uk/charity/fundraise/lets-go-green-clatterbridge