A COUNTRY music club will be supporting the Globe-backed Home from Home respite appeal for the Wirral Autistic Society next year.

Tombstone Country Music Club was established in November 2003, the brainchild of Terry Abel, a line dance Teacher in Neston.

Primarily Tombstone functioned to raise money for local charities while promoting live country music.

In that short space of five years it has now established a successful social night every second Friday of the month at its home base at Neston Royal British Legion, established two annual charity line dance events at Wallasey Town Hall in the spring and Ellesmere Port Civic Hall in the autumn.

Tombstone’s biggest achieve-ment must be its annual country music festival held at the beginning of August at Wirral Rugby and Cricket Club.

Launched three years ago it has grown and grown, when in its third year an estimated 160 caravans booked for the whole weekend.

The festival offers live country music from top UK soloists, duos and bands from the Friday night till Sunday teatime - all within a large marquee that is equipped with bar, stage, large dance floor and seating for over 450 people.

Hot and cold food stalls and a variety of western clothing stalls are also there.

Tombstone and the festival has, since its inauguration, donated over £17,000 to 13 local charities.

Terry Abel said: “In 2009 hopefully we will see an even further growth in the festival as this year we have chosen to support Wirral Autistic Society and their ‘Home from Home’ respite appeal.”

For further details call Terry on 07754833615 or visit www.tombstonecmc.co.uk.

WAS relies on voluntary income from individuals, companies and grant giving bodies to fund its work for people with autism. It wants to raise £1.3m for an adult respite centre.

To find out more visit their website at www.wirral.autistic.org.