A CELEBRATED Colchester musician is releasing his latest single as a benefit track to support the town’s refugee community.

Indie singer songwriter Johnno Casson will release his latest album, Wonky, under his Johnno Casson aka Snippet moniker.

The lead single, Run, was inspired by the Syrian refugee crisis after a “heart-broken” Johnno watched BBC documentary, Exodus: Our Journey, on unfolding events in the Middle East.

He said: “I decided I wanted to help in some way and met up with Refugee Action Colchester and saw the great work they do in helping refugees settle in the new country and a new town, after often fleeing the most awful circumstances.

“I met some of the refugees now settled in Colchester and saw such resilient and kind people who had suffered so much.

“I wanted to help in some way so I decided all proceeds from this song would be donated to Refugee Action Colchester.”

Over his more than a decade long career Johnno has released eight albums and six EPs under a few different names.

They have attracted attention from across the globe and he has become a well-known figure in the so-called wonky pop indie scene. He’s also been hailed a national treasure by veteran DJ Tom Robinson.

Johnno also runs the Warm and Toasty Club initiative, a community arts project which brings elderly people at free weekly story and entertainment sessions.

Johnno said he has been wanting to do something to help the refugee community for a long time.

“Refugee Action Colchester’s overall aim is to help refugees and asylum seekers to integrate into and become part of their new community in Colchester,” he said. “I’ve seen their work first hand and it is really helping make a difference.”

Run will be available via Bandcamp, iTunes and other online retails from March 20.

The video for the track made by Adam Roxby follows Johnno traversing Colchester’s streets. To pre-order single Run, visit snippetcuts.bandcamp.com/track/run or johnnocasson.co.uk.