A music project for youngsters with learning disabilities is appealing for donations so its members can continue to feel like rock stars.

Electric Umbrella has launched a crowd-funding project - which means it must raise its £5,000 target by October 22 or all past pledges are lost - to support its workshops in Watford and Berkhamsted.

Youngsters get together every week to write songs, play instruments and design t-shirts before the band embarks on a four week tour where it performs to hundreds of people at venues and clubs.

Electric Umbrella’s council funding - which got the band through the first two tours - has now ended, sparking the Kickstarter appeal.

Melanie Boda said: "If we apply for funding we might be successful, we might not, or we might have to wait until this time next year - but we are doing it anyway as we care for these young people.

"We currently have a couple of venues we can use free of charge and people to give up their time, but there are costs involved and the £5,000 would enable us to run the two sessions and the tour.

"It’s so nice for the youngsters to experience what you and I would get from a gig - they get so much from performing and contributing to the band. They are treated like rock stars everywhere we go."

Electric Umbrella’s Watford workshops kick off on Friday at 1pm. Click here to apply for a place.

To make a donation to the Kickstart appeal, click here.