Lead singer of iconic British band Squeeze that launched career of Jools Holland to play gig at Burnley's Church on the Street hub

Chris Difford will be performing some of he band's most famous chart topping hits, including Cool For Cats, Take Me I'm Yours and Up The Junction at Church on the Street from 4pm, all in aid of the charity's foodbank.

The singer offered to do the gig after hearing about the sterling work of Pastor Mick Fleming at Church on the Street's dedicated hub in Hammerton Street which houses a food bank, counselling rooms for one-to-one sessions, a medical room, a cafe, and a main space that serves as a church.

Church on the Street was founded in 2019 by Pastor Fleming and Mary and David Hirst. The COTS ministry would meet outside Burnley's town centre McDonalds to hand out food, drink, help and advice to those who needed it. Services soon expanded to include hot meals, clothing and food banks, recovery groups and funeral services, while opening a night shelter for the local homeless remained an overarching aim.

The opening of the hub saw that dream become a reality, all made possible by the hundreds of generous donations that flooded in following COTS' appearance on a BBC news feature. And in January this the year the project hosted a visit from Prince William and his wife Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Tomorrow's gig is being named Cool For COTS in honour of one of the band's biggest hits.

Mick said: "Chris got in touch with me after reading about Church on the Street and, as a Squeeze fan, I was delighted.

"He said he would send me a couple of tickets for a gig and he fulfilled that promise and I went to see him in Manchester with Kev Whittaker, one of our support workers, and we met Chris backstage where he made the pledge to come and perform for us at Church on the Street."

The gig kicks off at 4pm and all are welcome and the charity is asking for a £10 donation on the door. Numbers are restricted so anyone who wishes to attend the gig is advised to get down for 3-30pm to 3-45pm.