THE Singing Farmers have raised more than £100,000 for charity and attract sell-out audiences throughout Yorkshire but there are set to be just six more as concerts organiser/singer Chris Berry explains.

"We never intended that these concerts would become what they have. They were only intended as a one-off tour back in 2004 when we played our first concert in Hawes, but the demand has been so great that we’re now in our twelfth year of raising funds for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, which helps out the farming community in times of hardship.

"We’ve made a decision though that this year’s three concerts and a further trio of them next year will be the last. That will take us to 50 shows and that seems the right time to stop.

"We’d rather go out on a high while everyone still wants us to perform in these shows rather than simply go on forever."

Chris is known for his countryside journalism and playing with his function band for hunt balls. He will also be on the main stage at the summer music festival Staxtonbury in July. The rest of the Singing Farmers is made up of sheep farmers Tony Richards, of Egton Banks Farm, Glaisdale; Charles Marwood, of Foulrice, Whenby, near Sheriff Hutton; cattle breeder Ken Jackson, of Forlorn Hope Farm, Walden Stubbs, near Doncaster; farm supply shop owner Phillip Holden, of Spennithorne; and keyboard player Lloyd Lockwood.

This year’s concerts will take place in May at The Forum, Northallerton, on Friday, May 8, at 7.30pm; The Mart Theatre, Skipton, on Sunday, May 10, at 2.30pm; Milton Rooms, Malton, on Sunday, May 17.

Tickets are on sale now priced £13. Cheques should be made payable to RABI and enclose a stamped addressed envelope and the venue you require to The Singing Farmers Tickets, 2 Elmete Croft, Scholes, Leeds LS15 4BE.