AUTHOR and TV presenter Debbie Flint joined the renowned Eric Gilchrist Trio for a fundraising evening on behalf of the ground-breaking charity, Medical Detection Dogs at the Plough Arts Centre in Great Torrington on Saturday, September 16.

The Eric Gilchrist Trio plays jazz, and, most notably, has played at the Royal Albert Hall. It has been playing together for more than 30 years.

The trio accompanied Debbie on some 1940s vintage classics including "Beyond the sea" and "My baby just cares for me".

Together with a raffle and donations, and a vintage tearooms event the following day at Debbie’s guesthouse retreat, "Writing Retreats For You", in Sheepwash, more than £1,000 was raised.

This money will help Medical Detection Dogs train dogs that sniff out the odour of human diseases, including diabetes; prostate cancer, Parkinson’s, malaria and colorectal cancer.

Debbie Flint commented: “I was delighted to be performing once again with Eric and his superb musicians; singing with a saxophone is like nothing else.

“Barry Parsons gave a superb rendition of songs from the musicals including ‘Bring Him Home’. I can’t wait for our next performance together!

“Medical Detection Dogs is such a wonderful charity doing life-saving work. Every penny raised will go to help people with serious long-term conditions and to the development of earlier diagnosis for diseases such as cancer and Parkinson’s.”

Medical Detection Dogs was co-founded in 2008 by a team including Dr Claire Guest, a scientist and animal behaviour expert, and Dr John Church, a former orthopaedic surgeon.

The charity is based in Buckinghamshire and receives no government funding.