COMEDIAN Jim Davidson is calling on his celebrity friends to team up with amateur golfers for a charity tournament to help war veterans.

The former Generation Game host has teamed up with long time friend Mark Shurben-Browne, from Rayleigh, to host the event for Care After Combat - which helps veterans with alcohol and substance misuse problems and those who have turned to a life of crime.

Celebrities signed up to take part in the golf tournament - named the Jim Davidson Golf Classic - include actor Bobby Davro, former pro-snooker player John Virgo and Basildon’s very own Denise Van Outen.

Mr Shurben-Browne, a managing director of a security company, said: “I’ve been a friend of Jim’s for many years and he does a lot for the military. So I asked the Rayleigh Golf Club if we could run a charity event and Jamie Saitch, the owner, kindly agreed to give us the course free of fees and even made a generous contribution to Jim’s charity.

“It will be a celebrity and amateur event with teams of three who will then be assigned a celebrity to play with. It’s going to be brilliant.”

Mark added: “Teams are paying £400 a ticket but that includes the tournament and then a three-course dinner and evening entertainment. It’s going to be a fantastic night.”

Mark got involved with the charity because of his own experiences. He said: “I’m a Falklands veteran and know what people go through and we’re just trying to help former colleagues to get them back on their feet. We’re a proud bunch.”

The event will take place at Rayleigh Golf Club, in Hullbridge Road, on Thursday, June 22. Email mark@nasp.org.uk or visit careaftercombat.org