Vinyl revival sparks charity plea

The Beatles' Sergeant Pepper is the most requested record

Vintage LPs are gaining cult status among modern music-lovers, according to charity Barnardo's, which has seen a surge in demand for vinyl in its shops.

The children's charity is appealing for people to donate old albums because stock is low after "a distinct upturn in vinyl sales" in recent months.

Retail development boss John Ellis said: "For music aficionados, there is real cachet in owning original vinyl."

The Beatles' Sergeant Pepper is the most requested album, Barnardo's said.

MOST REQUESTED RECORDS 1. The Beatles - Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 2. Roxy Music - Country Life 3. The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers 4. The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight 5. Madonna - True Blue 6. David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 7. Prince - Purple Rain 8. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon 9. Happy Mondays - Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches 10.The Clash - London Calling Source: Barnardo's

It is followed by Country Life by Roxy Music, Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones and Rapper's Delight by The Sugarhill Gang.

"Many of our shop managers are deluged with requests for certain artists and records," Mr Ellis said.

"It appears that records and albums from the 1970s and 80s are proving most popular, and we think that it's part of a wider trend for all things nostalgic."

Records by Madonna, David Bowie, Prince, Pink Floyd, the Happy Mondays and The Clash are also heavily requested, he said.

Barnardo's has more than 330 charity shops across the UK.