Zoe's Place concert 'a thank you to Liverpool'

A special concert to thank those who helped raise £7.4m to save a baby hospice from closure has been announced.

The future of Zoe's Place in Liverpool was under threat last October when it was revealed the hospice would need to raise £5m within 30 days to fund a new premises.

A high-profile campaign secured the money needed within weeks and Labour MP Ian Byrne, who spearheaded the fundraising drive, said the special event was "a thank you to the city".

Merseyside musicians including Jamie Webster, Ian McCulloch, Rebecca Ferguson, The Zutons, Lightning Seeds, The Real Thing, and the Sense of Sound Singers will come together for "A Celebration of Zoe's Place" at the M&S Bank Arena in July.

Mr Byrne said the show would be an "absolutely unmissable, unforgettable night" which would also see the unveiling of a new name and branding for the hospice.

"It was an unbelievably special achievement what Liverpool did for Zoe's Place," he said.

"The way people in the city pulled together mean's the hospice can continue to bring solace, assistance and help to this city for generations to come.

"It is going to be a night to be extremely proud of Liverpool the city," he said.

Organisers said the event would be "a celebration of community, compassion, and resilience - the very spirit Liverpool is built on".

It will take place on 17 July and will be hosted by comedian Adam Rowe and former Radio City presenter Leanne Campbell, and will feature the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as the evening's live backing-band.

The hospice has cared for babies and children with complex needs and illnesses in the city since 1995.

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