A CARLISLE based band that were the support act for an Elton John gig are looking to release one of their old songs for Coronavirus good causes.

The Monroes were formed in the 1990s, when Britpop was at its height, and in 2007 got a big break supporting the rock legend at Brunton Park - the home of Carlisle United.

After the dream gig three of the bands four members became teachers though they are all still in regular contact.

Now they are looking to re-record one of their best known songs called Summertime to raise money to help those combating or suffering from the Coronavirus contagion.

Lead singer Leroy Johnson, 45, said they are looking to get round the lockdown by doing all the recording work online and then put it on a download site like Soundcloud.

He and drummer Stuart Dodd are based in Carlisle but keyboardist, and arranger, Tony Wilson and base guitarist John Reed are based in the north east.

The music teacher, tutor and dad-of-two added: “Wouldn’t it be something if we could make a donation.

“The song Summertime is a bit ELO, a bit Beatles-y and really says something about the present situation - it could be amazing.

“It says something is really positive, a real feel good song.

“Obviously we would not be able to record together, we’d have to do it over the internet.

“We have not actually recorded together for about 16 years.

"Three of us actually became teachers.

"If anything positive is coming out of this its the fact that I suppose I've never had time to just sit down and do this type of stuff."

Leroy says the lyrics are "strangely relevant" to the Coronavirus situation as follows:

"It is like a feeling you just can't buy, when you wish for Summertime."

"We want to record and master the track as quickly as possibly, which we can do as a lot of friends are sitting in empty studios twiddling their fingers

"We'd like to release it to raise money for a northern cause such as the NHS locally.

"I wrote the song nearly 24 years ago and I would love to hear it go out there and donate the funds completely to charity."

Leroy said their inspiration was the indie rock band called the Bluetones.

He added: "We wanted to be like them and did the four or five years on the road, gigs like the London Red Eye.

"We were on the brink of making it big but I think we missed out by about a year."

Anyone who can help or like to know more, go online to Leroy’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/leroy.johnson.58173