A GROUP of 48 NHS staff and friends, who are all part of a hospital-based symphony orchestra, have come together to create a special virtual performance of Elgar's 'Nimrod'.

The virtual concert celebrated the 72nd birthday of the NHS on Sunday and has already raised almost £2,500.

The Radcliffe Orchestra has been performing concerts at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for more than 40 years.

Comprised largely of NHS staff from across Oxfordshire the full sized NHS symphony orchestra is one of only a handful of its kind in the UK.

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Due to coronavirus, the staff had to cancel their scheduled summer concert and instead worked together to create the virtual performance.

Dr Rosie Adams, a Radiology Consultant at the John Radcliffe who is also the chair of the orchestra, said: "We normally perform three very special concerts a year, and these also raise thousands for medical charities.

"With everything on hold we decided creating a virtual performance would be a great way to continue to harness our musical passions.

"We chose to support our local NHS charity, Oxford Hospitals Charity, as well as we have seen first-hand the amazing work the charity does in our hospitals day in day out."

To see the performance or donate visit hospitalcharity.co.uk/news/radcliffeorchestra.