THE guitar that will lead the biggest rock band ever assembled in the British Isles will be carried off by one lucky raffle winner, with tickets selling for just £1.

More than 2,500 guitarists will assemble on Lyme Regis beach on September 7 to set a new Guinness record, simultaneously playing Buddy Holly’s hit Rave On, on what would have been the rock and roll legend’s 77th birthday.

One unique guitar, donated by sponsors Fender Guitars, will lead the show, played by former Woodroffe school pupil and actor Billy Geraghty.

Geraghty, who played Buddy Holly in the hit West End musical which celebrated the life of the tragic icon who died in a plane crash aged just 22, will sign the special Stratocaster after the performance.

Organisers are raffling the instrument at £1 a ticket to raise money for The Lyme Regis branch of Cancer Research, The Teenage Cancer Trust, Chordoma Cancer UK and the Lyme Regis Skateboard Park appeal.

“There has never been an event like Guitars on the Beach in the UK before and so the Fender guitar that leads Britain’s biggest ever band will be worth a fortune to collectors. It’s a piece of music history, a real one-off guitar,” said event organiser Geoff Baker.

“And two runners-up will be feeling pretty pleased with themselves too, because Fender has also donated a pair of sea blue acoustic guitars which will also be played by members of the House Band during the performance. They will also be raffled for £1 a ticket.”

Lyme Regis resident Jill Newton, who has funded the event, presented the guitars to another of the event’s sponsors, Andy Cable, at his Axminster music shop Axe Music.

The guitars will be on display at the shop until the record-breaking day.

Guitarists of all ages and abilities will come and participate in the record attempt, with some coming from as far away as America and Canada.

The event will be launched on the evening of September 6, with a concert at the Marine Theatre by guitar legend Robbie McIntosh, former lead guitarist with Paul McCartney, John Mayer and The Pretenders.

Axminster sound expert John Mills’ Sounds Live company is providing all of the PA and amplifier equipment for the enormous beach band event.