A TOUCH of Hollywood is coming to a North-East charity fundraiser this weekend.

Characters from the cast of Star Wars will be making an appearance at the Children in Need appeal in Stanley County Durham.

Members of the 99th Garrison costume group will be at North Durham Academy on Friday from 6pm-10pm

As well as the Star Wars cast, a minion from Despicable Me and Peppa Pig will be there, along with a host of fundraising stalls and attractions in the atrium.

There will also be performances by local bands from the area and a fancy dress competition with entry based on donations.

Jim Callan, who is helping to organise the event with Stanley teenager Lewis Christie, said: “Overall, it promises to be an exciting and entertaining night with people doing something for charity at the same time.”

Mr Callan, from Stanley, who is being treated for multi-sited inoperable cancer, is currently involved in planning more charity events for next year.

He added: “While the plans for 2015 are well into the post planning stages, I’m concentrating now on assisting Lewis and the team with making the Children In Need event the success it deserves to be and having the 99th coming along will go some way to achieving that.”

Entry to the event is free.