A GRATEFUL grandad has launched his own charity involving some big names in music to provide life-saving equipment for children.

Musician and promoter Peter Barton aims to raise £1million through Concerts for the Kids after his grandson Ashton was saved by staff at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool.

The charity will see top acts playing intimate concerts for free, with all proceeds from tickets going towards vital equipment.

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Already the likes of Toyah, Big Country and Bruce Foxton, bassist with The Jam, have agreed to perform for the charity.

The first concerts will be held at the Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre which Peter has opened in the town centre.

Peter, who has played all round the world as a member of the Animals and Friends, and alongside the likes of Blues Brother Steve Cropper and Spencer Davis, said: “There is a sign at Alder Hey which says ‘miracles do happen’.

“I’ve seen at first hand what a difference having the right equipment can make and this is my way of giving something back and allowing more of those miracles to take place for other families.”

Ashton, three, was born at the birth centre at Burnley General Hospital in November 2013 but it immediately became apparent that something was wrong.

Mum Sophie, 33, of Kirkmoor Road, Clitheroe, said: “Ashton was born with a hole in the heart and other heart problems and had to be taken to Alder Hey within hours of being born.

“He was operated on and spent eight weeks at the hospital.

“Ashton had to return to the hospital when he was eight-months-old for a second major operation, after which he suffered a stroke, which affected his left side.

“Ashton has hypoplastic left heart syndrome,” said Sophie, “which basically means only one part of his heart is working and he will need another operation when he’s a bit older to repair the hole in his heart. But the doctors are amazed at the progress he is making.”

Sophie and husband Liam, 30, have an older son Lewis, six.

“If Ashton had been born when Lewis was he would not have survived,” said Sophie, “as the equipment to detect the problem and to operate on them wasn’t available.”

Peter, who lives in Clitheroe, has opened the Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre on Rainhall Road complete with bar and restaurant, converting the cellar into a 70-capacity live music venue.

“With the Concerts for the Kids we will be having fairly high ticket prices for some of the events but it will be an opportunity for fans to see some major names in an intimate venue,” he said.

“The artists will be donating their time and playing for free. Already the response I have had has been amazing. Quite a few artists have committed to doing something, we are just in the process of sorting out dates.”

An acoustic evening with From the Jam, featuring Bruce Foxton in April, sold out within a couple of hours of being announced “We have a waiting list of around 120 people for that one,” said Peter.

The first Concert for the Kids event will see pioneering 70’s rock drummer Corky Laing’s Mountain playing at the venue on Sunday, January 29.

“I have never met Corky or worked with him before,” said Peter, “but the moment he heard about the charity and what we were hoping to do he said he wanted to do it.”

Peter is also looking at arranging special fundraising concerts at bigger venues too.

“The aim is just to raise as much money as possible,” said Peter. “Once I have raised a considerable sum I will be working with Alder Hey initially to see what piece of equipment they need and buying it for them. I’m hoping we can also buy equipment for other children’s hospitals around the country as we go on.

“Every year I will then write to all the artists who have taken part and be able to let them know how many young lives their concerts have helped to save.

“Sometimes for whatever reason, children are born broken and I just want to help mend those broken children.”

Full details of all Concerts for the Kids will be announced on barnoldswickmusicandartscentre.com