TV STARS took on a team of ex-football professionals yesterday to raise thousands for a North-East sports club.

Familiar faces from Coronation Street, Holby City, Hollyoaks and Brookside turned out at Durham County FC's Archibalds Stadium, at Belmont, near Durham City.

They soundly beat an all-star 11, including former Sunderland players Micky Horswill, Martin Gray and Brian Atkinson.

The match, which ended 6-2 to the TV stars from Granada Studios, attracted a crowd of more than 2,000 fans at an average ticket price of £5.

Ryan Thomas, who plays Jason Grimshaw, in Coronation Street, said: "It was a really good turnout and a great atmosphere."

The side also included his fellow Corrie actor Danny Young, who plays Warren Baldwin.

The event was organised by PC Shaun Lavender, based at nearby Gilesgate and manager of Durham County FC's under-tens team.

"It was great of all the TV stars and the footballers to come out for the club," he said.

Cash raised from the event will enable PC Lavender to take the club's junior teams to football tournaments around the country.