A close-up magic show is being held to raise much-needed funds for a mental health service charity.

The North Western Society of Magicians is hosting the show on Friday at the Laurel and Hardy Museum on Brogdon street, Ulverston to raise money for SAFA (Self harm awareness for all), a mental health service in Barrow supporting people across the Furness area right up to Kendal.

Chair of SAFA Ian Burns said the event will bring some much-needed profits to the charity to provide more services for those in need.

He said: “People who are in the magic circle locally contacted us and said every year they do a charity show and are looking for a charity to support and wanted to help us out.

“All proceeds on the day will go to our much-needed charity to provide more counselling and to help cut down our waiting list and get more people the help they need.

“It costs us a quarter of a million pounds to run the operation every year to provide counselling. There is a massive demand for our service so we really appreciate any local fundraising.

Mr Burns, who has worked part-time at SAFA for four years, also works as a programme director at BAE said he grew closer to helping people with their mental health after being the SHE director in the shipyard.

He said: “I do this in my spare time. We are a team of four full time and 20 counsellors. The team and the service they provide is fantastic. I don’t know where we would be without organisations like this and others in the area.”

“I have seen the magicians perform before when they provided entertainment for events at BAE and they are really talented.

“Hopefully the event will have a really good turnout and a lot of money will be raised.

“So many people need help and it isn’t really there for them without organisations like this. The money will be really worthwhile.”