IT was all hands to the pump at a concert to raise money for the maintenance of a Grade 1 listed organ — quite literally!

An evening concert with the Winkleigh Singers on July 8 at Broadwoodkelly’s All Hallows Church was in danger of floundering when the church’s historic Telford and Telford Grade 1 listed pipe organ stopped working just before the event was due to start.

Coincidentally, the concert was in aid of a hefty restoration for the organ, which was built in 1850 and is unique in Devon.

Ken Gristy, secretary to the parochial church council, said: ‘It was a case of reverting to the original method of powering the organ.

‘Fortunately the hand pump mechanism was still intact and with help from some deft pump operators, the programme was saved.’