Carlisle's mayor is singing for his supper – literally – as he takes to the stage.

The city’s first citizen is taking to the stage to bring his mayoral year to a cultural close.

The Mayor of Carlisle, councillor Steve Layden, is unleashing his spectacular singing voice on the paying public.

He hopes it will help him reach his target of raising £20,000 for four local good causes during his mayoral year.

Beneficiaries of his 2015/16 Mayor’s Charity Fund are Carlisle Youth Zone, Cumbria Cerebral Palsy, Carlisle Cathedral’s Fratry development project, and the Alzheimer’s Society.

So far around £12,000 has been raised.

Mr Layden has already been performing at a Burns Supper in January, again in aid of the mayor’s fund.

He is also going to be performing with the City of Carlisle Orchestra at a concert at St John’s Church, London Road, on March 18.

Mr Layden is delighted to be teaming up with old friend John Davies, who leads Classic Theatre Cumbria.

The theatre group is presenting TS Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral at Carlisle Cathedral on March 10 to 12.

Proceeds from the production, directed by Mr Davies, are going to the mayor’s fund.

Former British Heart Foundation fundraiser Mr Layden, who is a part-time drama teacher at Samuel King’s School in Alston, said: “I guess you have to lead from the front.

“I’m looking forward to singing with the orchestra, I’ll be doing a bit of Gilbert and Sullivan. I’m very excited about doing something a bit different as mayor.

“When we chose the play and concert we thought it would be a nice way to end the fundraising.

“The play will be staged in the body of the cathedral and the action will take place in that central aisle and up towards the altar. What a setting it is going to be.”

Mr Layden and Mr Davies – a former head of English at Morton School – first worked together in the 1980s when they were members of Cumbria Teachers Theatre.

It was a group founded by Mr Davies in 1974 which presented plays set for examination by various exam boards. An instant hit, the group’s success went on to span 25 years.

Tickets for Murder in the Cathedral are on sale priced £10 for adults and £7.50 for children.

They are available from Carlisle Tourist Information Centre at the Old Town Hall, 01228 598596 or email tourism@carlisle.gov.uk .

Meanwhile tickets for The Mayor of Carlisle’s Charity Concert on March 18 are available for £6 in advance from members of the City of Carlisle Orchestra or from Bookcase. Performances will start at 7.30pm.

Mr Layden is hosting an evening of music and comedy at the Tithe Barn, Carlisle, on February 27.