A group of ukulele fans have come together to form the most unlikely of Beatles tribute bands.

The Beatleleles formed in Macclesfield in 2013 as a one off to celebrate the 50th anniversary of only gig the Fab Four played around Macclesfield.

Since then they have played gigs around the town. On Saturday they found a new audience at the Macclesfield Christmas Light switch on.

The band is made up eight ukulele lovers from all walks of life including: Dave Phillips, a retired merchant navy officer, Claire Hutchinson, an auditor, Ian Musgrave, a sales manager, Stuart Fraser, who works at the Job Centre, care worker Lawrence White, lab assistant Alison Carey, Mark Miller and Huw Williams, a civil engineer.

The group were formed by Beatles fanatic Mark Millar, 37, who has combined his two passions - with a little help from his friends. He said: “I have loved the Beatles’ music since I was a boy. I have become an avid collector and learnt their songs on the guitar. In 2000 I bought a ukulele but didn’t do anything with it until I joined Macclesfield Ukuele Club in 2009. As we were approaching the anniversary of the Beatles’ one and only gig in Macclesfield I suggested we do something special to mark it. We got 20 members on stage to do about 20 songs, it was brilliant.”

The experience inspired a break-away ukulele group and The Beatleleles was born.

Sadly the clever name wasn’t quite as unique as they first thought.

Mark, who lives in the town centre, said: “We thought we had struck gold with the Beatleleles name, only to discover a group in America had done the same thing around the same time.

“Both groups are actually in touch with each other. You never know, maybe one day we’ll get together for a gig.”

The hobby has also led to Love Love Love for Mark, whose met his fiancée Alison Carey, 28, through the band. They plan to marry next year, and won’t have to look very far for a wedding band. Huw Williams, who plays bass ukulele, said the band also play other sixties favourites by the likes of Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. He added: “I’m not sure what George Formby would make of us, but whatever we play, we give it our own different ukulele twist and throw in a few other instruments too, which audiences love.”