A DJ who has been left without work due to the current coronavirus restrictions has been keeping people entertained while raising money for charity from his own kitchen.

Max Walker, from Hay-on-Wye, has already raised £2,400 for Helping Our Homeless Wales by holding virtual DJ sets, fit with lights and a smoke machine, from his home.

His set next Saturday (May 23) will help raise money for Hereford Food Bank and will take place on his 'DJ Max Galactic' Facebook page.

"The theme will be burgers and cocktails and we'll be hooking up with some local suppliers and encouraging people to get their gin and burgers from them," said Mr Walker.

"It would have been the first Saturday of the Hay Festival so we are encouraging people to get involved while raising money.

"We will also be cooking our dinner during the DJ set."

Mr Walker regularly DJs at festivals across the country but has been left without work due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"For my day job I work in television, film and special effects," he added.

"I also work as a DJ at festivals most weekends. All my film work has been put on hold and festivals have been cancelled.

"I was supposed to be playing at Glastonbury, El Dorado and Nozstock but they have all been cancelled. I'm self employed and so is my other half, so our work has been cancelled for the foreseeable future and on the festival front it looks pretty bleak."

Instead Mr Walker's virtual DJ parties on Facebook have helped to bring people across Herefordshire together while also raising money for charity.

He added: "We tried to make it feel like a proper party with a smoke machine going off alongside the music. We have had three parties so far which have had thousands of viewers.

When we have gone live between 250 and 300 devices have been watching on their device but you can double that as people will be watching the same device.

"Then people go back and watch it again. Hundreds of people have also been commenting asking for shout outs for their mates.

"What is really good about it in watching real time is that everybody is watching the same party at the same time so it feels like there is a connection.

"Groups of friends have been all watching together and holding their own parties on Zoom (messaging service).

"So people are doing the same things as their friends, just in a different place."