TOP Essex rockers Koopa are playing a charity gig to raise funds for a rare genetic disease that affects young children.

The punk-pop band, who became the first act in history to enter the top 40 without signing a record deal, have confirmed they are playing a gig in Rayleigh later this month.

The north Essex trio will appear at the Mill Hall, Rayleigh, on May 26 alongside local acts, Sammy, 7th Hill, Intern, the Colours Between, Heroes of High School and Andy Small.

All the money raised will go to research into the super-rare, ageing disorder, progeria.

Only 40 children in the world have progeria, a fatal genetic condition characterised by an appearance of accelerated ageing.

Children with progeria die of the same heart disease that affects millions of normal aging adults, but instead of happened at 60 or 70 years old, the children suffer strokes and heart attacks, aged five or six.

The event has been organised in the honour of Hayley Okines a nine-year-old girl with the disease.

Concert organiser Julie Daly, 39, from Benfleet, said: "I had the great pleasure of meeting Hayley and her family last year when they came to Southend to record her single, Voices of Tomorrow with Kids Choir 2000.

"I was already doing the groundwork for setting up my promotion company at that time and I promised Hayley's parents once I was up and running, I would do something to raise money to raise awareness of the disease, too.

"I'm hoping to raise between £1,500 and £2,000 from ticket sales, raffles and the donations which have already started coming in.

"The evening's takings will go straight the Progeria research Foundation charity."

The show starts at 7pm. Advance tickets cost £5 and are available from Julie Daly, on 07852 519081