Ed Sheeran guitar to benefit East Anglia's Children's Hospices

Ed Sheeran has already donated a drum kit to East Anglia's Children's Hospices

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is putting his name to a new guitar which will raise money for children's hospices.

Acoustic guitar manufacturer CF Martin will produce a limited edition guitar embossed with the East Anglia Children's Hospices (EACH) logo.

Sheeran said "every single penny" he receives from sales of the guitar, which a UK distributor said would cost about £500, would go to the charity.

EACH runs three hospices in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

The LX1E Ed Sheeran Signature Edition features the EACH logo as well as a plus symbol which is the title of Sheeran's multi-million selling major label debut album.

Sheeran, who grew up in Framlingham in Suffolk, said: "I have been a fan of Martin since I started playing guitar and I am honoured to have a signature edition that bears my own personal imprint.

"All of the royalties from every purchase will go to EACH and I can't wait to get on stage and perform with it."

'Really touching'

The new CF Martin signature guitar features the "EACH" and "+" logos

Vanessa Bell, Suffolk fundraiser for EACH, said: "We're thrilled Ed has chosen EACH to benefit from the sales of the guitar - it's a great way to raise funds and promote our work to a really wide audience.

"It's really touching to think EACH is at the forefront of Ed's mind and shows just how grounded he is."

EACH said it had yet to be decided how many copies of the limited guitar would be made, what the retail price would be and exactly what percentage of the retail price would go to the charity.

Sheeran had already donated a drum kit to The Treehouse hospice in Ipswich for its music therapy room.

His mother Imogen designed a bracelet for EACH, which has been worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, who is a patron for the charity.

The guitar will be unveiled to the music industry by GF Martin at the Summer NAMM trade exhibition in Nashville, USA on Thursday.