Singing brought the cash flowing and left the charity smiling.

The song's called Give Us The Money and the cast of Avenue Q sang it during Wells Little Theatre's production of Avenue Q, a musical comedy featuring puppets and human actors.

During this appropriate song members of the theatre company went and collected cash from the audience for the Wells Food Bank.

"We were blown away by the generosity of the audience who raised £870.60 for the city's Food Bank," said Glynn Webster who played the internet entrepreneur Trekkie Monster in the show and whose daughter Elisha was the choreographer.

"It was the most fun and challenging show we have done," said Glynn, from Shepton Mallet. "Like The Muppets on steroids. We had to learn how to work a puppet on stage and get the audience to look at it rather than you."

Avenue Q won Best Musical, Book, and Score at the 2004 Tony Awards. The show's format is a parody of the American educational TV series Sesame Street but its content involves adult-oriented themes.

"There's a scene in the show with a homeless man and we wanted to do what we could help deal with this very serious issue," said Glynn.

"We are immensely grateful to the theatre for this wonderful support," said Sue Marland, "and that they see the Food Bank as such a significant part of our community."

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The money will be used to buy stock for the Food Bank which is facing increasing demand.