STARS from the Dales donned their whites and left Northwich bowled over by a batty cricket match.

A 500-strong crowd packed Northwich Cricket Club on Sunday to see Emmerdale All Stars face MPs and Celebrities in a celebrity cricket match.

The event, organised by Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans, has so far raised more than £5,000 for three charities, including The Joshua Tree, St Luke’s Hospice and Halton Haven Hospice.

Graham said: “It was a wonderful event.

“It was great to see Northwich people there and young people, with youngsters playing their own little cricket match too which was really pleasing to see.

“The generosity of the sponsors and the crowd was fantastic.

“It was a real giggle and the smiles on people’s faces said it all.”

The Emmerdale All Stars team featured Matthew Wolfenden, who plays David Metcalfe, Chris Chittell, who plays Eric Pollard, Bhasker Patel, who plays Rishi Sarma, Joe-Warren Plant, who plays Jacob Gallagher, and Natalie Anderson, who plays Alicia Metcalfe.

The MPs and Celebrities team featured TV presenter Nick Hancock, TV antiques auctioneer Adam Partridge, Mo Chaudry , from Channel 4’s ‘Secret Millionaire’, and Ikram Butt, the first British Asian to represent England at either code of rugby.

The MPs and Celebrities team won by a narrow margin of one run after an entertaining match, which saw Chris Chittell win Moment of the Match for bowling with his trousers around his ankles.

Nick Hancock was named Man of the Match and Pete Waterman gave out prizes.

Graham said: “The Emmerdale cast were a credit to ITV.

“They’re actors but to complement them they are also star quality entertainers.

“Actors act a given role but these people are clearly talented individuals in their own right.”

Graham praised Northwich Cricket Club, volunteers from the club and all the charities, members of both teams and Northwich people for supporting the event.