A COMMUNITY has rallied around to raise funds after instruments were stolen from a band.

Jessica Pattison of Romsey set up an online fundraiser after the Romsey Old Cadets discovered their instruments had been stolen from a garage in North Baddersley where they were being stored.

It was discovered that the instruments had been taken on Tuesday, August 7, which was promptly followed by the set up of a ‘GoFundMe’ online campaign in order to raise the money needed to replace the equipment.

Mike Smith, a Romsey Old Cadets member said: “It’s great from our point of view.

“The local people want to help us and support us.

“The band don’t have anything to do with the page being set up, it was all the public.”

The Romsey Old Cadets are a Carnival Show band made up of men who have all been a part of the Army Cadet Force.

They take part in carnivals and displays including Remembrance Parade and St. George’s Day.

The band had used the garage to store their instruments for 25 years but when over-grown ivy was removed from climbing up the storage unit walls it damaged the roof, leaving the instruments vulnerable.

The stolen items ranged from old instruments to brand new equipment making it difficult for the band to estimate a worth of the items stolen from them.

The fundraiser has been set to raise £3,500 to contribute towards the cost of replacing the Cadet’s instruments.

Mr. Smith said: “We’re lucky really.

“We’re a nine-strong band and most of us keep our instruments at home so we are still able to play.

“But we are currently recruiting and the instruments were for new members who might not have their own. New members will not be able to practice and we cannot recruit until we have instruments.”