Ian Botham is leading a charge of past and present England cricketers to raise cash for a cancer charity.

The team event for sporting celebrities has snowballed since the Macmillan Cancer Relief announced it was looking for players.

Apart from Botham, pictured, and former Newcastle United and England manager Sir Bobby Robson the ranks of the players has now been swollen by: Brian Close, Andrew Flintoff, Michael Vaughan, Mark Nicholas, Ian Gould, Neil Mallender, Paul Collingwood and Steve Harmison.

Botham, nicknamed Beefy, is also facing competition from his rugby-playing son, Liam.

The tournament, to raise money for the Macmillan County Durham Appeal, will be held at Brancepeth Castle Golf Club, near Durham City on Tuesday. Spectators are welcome at the event, which tees off at 10.30am