COME April 1, a million pounds will have been raised by the Somerset Emergency Flood Relief Fund, thanks to the county’s fundraising efforts.

Last week The Wurzels, the West Country’s-own, chipped in in raucous fashion with a concert dedicated to adding to the community’s flood-relief pot.

Each song was a sing-along, deep-rooted in a deep love for ‘Good Old Somerset’.

When the crowd sang, it was with warm pride of place. Everyone, from pre-teens and white-haired men in flat caps to high-heeled young women and generations of Bridgwater women, reeling off lyrics word-for-word.

Barbie Sutherland, 70, from Bridgwater, said: “I just love the atmosphere The Wurzels create; you can sing all the songs.

“I think it’s absolutely brilliant they’ve done this. They’re West Country people so they must know how people have really suffered.”

Sue Gold from Yeovil added: “I love the Wurzels – and I want to help flood victims.”

While Susan Carpenter, who had trekked from Essex, said: “It’s very good they’re doing it.

“I drove across the Somerset Levels earlier – the floods have been so dreadful for the people and the farmland.”

Folk-stomping support act, Mad Dog Mcrea, got the crowd swarming the mosh pit earlier in the night with their calorie-burning cracker of a set.

From Tommy Banner, the longest-serving Wurzel, who stripped down to his thong towards the show’s end, to 80-year-old John Morgan, the oldest drummer in the land, the quad effortlessly raised the crowd’s spirits – and a scrumpy can to Adge Cutler, of course.

Justin Sargent, chief executive of the Somerset Community Foundation, addressed the audience with the running total (“At this moment we have raised £922,000 for the Somerset Levels”) and thanked the bands, the Palace and co, for laying on the show for free.

Visit www.somersetcf.org.uk to donate.

  • FOR the full spread of pictures from the night, taken by Steve Richardson, pick up this week's Mercury.