NEWPORT City Live Arena (NCLA) is to run a benefit night for the school- children of Beslan, in Ossetia.

The date, Friday, October 8, was going to be the launch of a residency by the Bristol-based ten-piece band Big Night Out.

Now the band has agreed to perform for expenses only, and the NCLA is being provided free by owner Richard Perry so that ticket revenue can be donated directly to Beslan.

The tickets cost £7 each and will be available from a range of outlets including Ticketline on 02920 230130 and Newport's Diverse Music on 01633 259661.

Richard Perry said: "It's important to do something quickly."

NCLA promoter Jan Ayers said: "We're asking companies to get behind us on this and take block bookings on behalf of their staffs.

"Big Night Out does a non-stop two-hour set of soul and funk and will make it a real party.

"I've worked on Live Aid and Sport Aid, so I've got some idea of how to do this."

She said that like many people she found the pictures from Russia almost too hard to bear.

"The tragedy is almost too terrible to contemplate, it's like Aberfan all over again. The survivors and their families will need a lot of support.

"By supporting Big Night Out on October 8 people can enjoy a great evening and benefit a very worthwhile cause at the same time."