A CHISWICK pub was the venue of choice for a student's unusual charity fund-raiser – a 24 hour busk.

Phil Tottman, 25, of Forest Road in Kew, put his musical abilities to the test on Thursday and Friday of last week when he undertook the gruelling challenge.

He successfully managed to raise more than £1,000 for UNICEF.

The broadcast journalism student, who studies at The University of West London, set up camp on a stage at the George IV pub from midday on Thursday May 12, until midday on Friday.

He entertained customers with not only his singing voice, but by playing the guitar and the piano.

During the night he was supervised by friends to make sure he busked for a full 24 hours with nothing more than a five minute break every hour.

He said: "I was going to originally do it on the street, but I couldn't get a busking license for that long, so I was really glad to be able to do it in the pub.

"I was really getting quite nervous before hand, but it went really well."

Mr Tottman prepared a three and a half hour set, which he played on loop throughout the 'day'.

He belted out dozens of tunes, including All Around The World by Oasis, Imagine by John Lennon, and Everything's Gonna Be Alright by Bob Marley.

He was supported by course-mate Miles Daniel-Davies, Nik Arizena, assistant manager at the pub, and Jeremy Retore, a member of bar staff, who supervised him throughout.

Mr Tottman said: "I decided to raise money for UNICEF because I am going out to Namibia in September to do a trek for them in the Namib desert, I really like the charity as a whole, and I am planning to do a few sponsored events this year for the charity.

"It was really hard work, you just go numb after a while. It took a couple of days for my voice to recover, and from playing the guitar so much my index finger is bent and swollen."

All of Mr Tottman's fund-raising for the challenge has taken place off line, but anyone wanting to sponsor him using the internet can visit www.justgiving.com/Phillip-Tottman

UNICEF is the world's leading organisation for protecting the rights of children and young people.

Are you doing something unusual for charity? Let us know by emailing jessicathompson@trinitysouth.co.uk