A TYNE Valley singer has been using her talents to bring some cheer to those in need this year - and fund-raise for her village nursery at the same time.

Jade Saunders, from Mickley, has been singing on doorsteps across the North-East in a bid to bring some entertainment into the lives of people who have been forced to self-isolate.

Now, she has decided to raise some money to pay for a new play area at Mickley Nursery, which her son attends.

Jade, who has sung all over the world, spoke about what she had been doing during the second lockdown.

She said: "This lockdown, I've been singing outside people's doors raising money for different charities.

"I thought, I'm raising all this money and the school needs a new play area - they've not got any funding because of covid.

"I love doing it. I've been singing since I was 15 and I've sung all over the world, and then I got diagnosed with MS so I stopped travelling about to do it.

"But I've powered through and I need to get back out. I love it, I love seeing people's faces.

"People are so grateful, some of these people have been in isolation since March. They've not left the house.

"I've being singing for people in isolation and for care homes.

"The first person I sung for this lockdown was a man on his 90th birthday. His wife had passed away, but he said I'd made his year."

Donations can be made to Jade's campaign at gf.me/u/zajrp9. So far, she's raised £439 - but she is aiming for a grand total of£2,000.

Any money left over after paying for the nursery's new play area will be donated to local food banks.

Jade is confident she will be able to raise the money.

She continued: "The nursery are really grateful - my little boy goes there and it's a lovely nursery. . I had to get clearance from the head teacher but they were happy for it to go ahead.

"They just haven't got a play area. I don't know how much it's going to cost, but it looks like it's going to be about £2,000.

"If there's any spare left over, we're going to give the rest to the food bank.

"I'm pushing it everywhere I got, I've got about 20 booked over the next few weeks.

"I'm sure we will get there."