AN animal charity is to benefit from a band’s memorial gigs, following the death of their singer.

RSPCA Danaher centre, in Wethersfield, was contacted by the band Chasing ORA, and told band members wanted proceeds from two gigs to fund its work.

The band’s co-founder, Joanna Jones, who was killed in a car crash in March, was a great animal lover.

Miss Jones, of Great Leighs, set up Chasing ORA with her sister Natalie after returning from Australia, where they had played at the birthday parties of Hollywood A-listers Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe.

Fellow band member Darren Clark contacted Bob Ferdinando, Danaher’s general manager, to say Joanna would have loved money from two gigs in July to support animals.

Danaher is currently fund-raising for a £25,000 cat isolation unit, which would enable it to re-home 25 per cent more cats. Mr Ferdinando said: “Not many rock groups would donate to animal charities. I just think it’s so nice for somebody of that age group to want to do something like this.

“As Joanna was a huge animal-lover, and supported animal charities, funds raised will be donated.”

The centre will put a plaque on the new building with Joanna’s name on it, he said.

Danaher animal centre lost an employee, Laura Barker, in a car crash a year ago.

The animal care manager, who also has a block named after her, was 27 – the same age as Joanna.

Initial dates for the gigs are July 24, at Chinnerys, Southend, and July 25 at Barfly, Camden.

More information will be released nearer the time.