CELEBRITIES will turn-out to play in a special football fundraiser hoped to raise thousands of pounds for St Luke’s Hospice.

Chris Cooper, 30, who lives in Basildon, is organising the event as a thank you to the hospice for the care they gave his nan, Sheila Smith.

She was cared for there in 2013 when she was suffering bowel cancer and sadly died. This is the second year he has organised the event, with last year’s raising £6,000.

He said: “St Luke’s are unbelievable. The care they given and the support is brilliant.

“We want to raise more for them this year. The support was amazing last year, from the celebrities to the people who paid to come.”

The celebrities will be taking on a team of locals.

They will include... X Factor finalist Che Chesterman, Alex Bowen and Jordan Ring, from ITV’s Love Island, Paul Manners, of Britain’s Got Talent, Scott Robinson, from band 5ive, ex-footballers Bertie Brayley and Steve Slade, Big Brother finalist Danny Wisker, Daniel Lassman from The Apprentice, and Harry Berry from Take Me Out, among many others.

There will also be a raffle and auction, with prizes including an Alan Shearer signed shirt and a signed Essex cricket team bat.

Mr Cooper added: “We have already sold about 150 tickets and people from as far away as Manchester are coming to support us.

“I would like to thank Bowers Football Club and Toga Sports for the kit.”

The match will take place on Sunday, April 9 at Bowers Gifford Football Club, Crown Avenue.

Tickets are £3.50 for children and £5.50 for adults.

As well as the match, there will also be children’s entertainers, fun and games, stalls and inflatables.

To book tickets or for more information visit theticketsellers.co.uk/tickets/united-for-charity-celebrity-footy-match/10042903