THE stars of TV's Emmerdale entertained the crowds in a celebrity cricket fun day yesterday.

The soap stars team took on the BBC Radio Cleveland All Stars in a charity match to raise money for Children In Need, at the Feethams cricket ground in Darlington.

Emmerdale fielded a strong line-up, which included crowd favourite Chris Chittell, who plays nasty Eric Pollard in the soap.

Also included in the team were Patrick Mower, whose character Rodney Blackstock is the village Romeo, and former favourite Fraser Hines, who was Joe Sugden in the soap for many years.

Mower, perhaps most famous for his portrayal of Steve Hackett in the 1970s police series, Target, was due to open the batting for Emmerdale.

But he revealed it was less to do with his ability and more down to the fact he had to leave early for filming.

Speaking during the tea interval, he said: "I enjoy this very much because sport is my second love after being an actor.

"I used to be a fast runner, but I've realised I'm not quite as agile as I used to be. This game is separating the young men from the old boys."

The Emmerdale team tours the country regularly. Two weeks ago they were in Aberdeen and in a fortnight they visit Bournemouth.

Mr Mower said: "I like to do something for charity every Sunday. If I wasn't here, I'd be playing golf in a charity match somewhere."

About 1,000 people attended the event and organisers were hoping to have raised a considerable amount for charity.