ANDREW Gardner, who has Downs Syndrome, and other musicians with disabilities kept the beat going for four hours with a sponsored “drum off”, in aid of Children In Need.

More than 35 different drummers, mainly adults with disabilities plus supporting staff from The Grove Resource Centre, in Hindhead. took part last Thursday raising £200.

The joint fund raiser was organised between Gavin Dickie of MusArt Studios and Nik Jones of Voyage Care and The Grove Resource centre in Hindhead.

Andrew, 49, has been attending sessions with Focus Ability, a non profit community interest company, for ten years and is a regular at MusArt Studio.

Workshop co-ordinator Gavin Dickie said: “Andrew has been wanting to take part in raising money for Children in Need and came the idea of doing a sponsored drum off. As a result of Andrew’s passion for music he played a huge part of the inspiration for starting rock band sessions and MusArt Studios.”