HUNDREDS of fans descended on AFC Darwen’s ground yesterday to see and hear stars from some of TV’s biggest shows sing and play soccer in aid of charity.

Nicky Price, a finalist in BBC’s ‘Let it Shine’, kicked off the event with a vocal performance.

Britain’s Got Talent stars Ella Shaw from Langho and Hollie Steel from Huncoat then took to the stage to sing before lacing up their football boots to play.

Blackburn comedian Tez Ilyas pitched up for the event in aid of charity ‘Bullies Out’ before heading for his annual month-long stint at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Other stars at the celebrity soccer match at the Anchor Ground included Lewis Hepworth from TOWIE, Fati Rull from ‘Ex on the Beach’ and Manchester’s The Malones from Gogglebox.

Ex-Burnley player and former AFC Darwen footballer and manager Dennis Hill also put his boots back on for the round robin tournament of eight matches of 10 two ten-minute halves.

The six-hour event was organised by Football Hero, a charity events group set up by Blackburn residents Andrew Watton, Jasmin Iddon and Kevin Iddon.

Last year a similar day called ‘Soccer Burnley’ was held in Burnley

Mr Iddon said: “We have had more than 300 people turn up which is a pretty good attendance considering the weather, especially the rain on Saturday night.

“There has been a really good atmosphere in the ground and everyone seems to have been enjoying themselves.

“We have had dozens of local and national celebrities turn up and we’ve got most of them to put on their boots and play, including Ella and Hollie.

“They and Nicky singing got the day off to a really good start.

“We are hoping to raise several hundred pounds once we’ve counted up all the proceeds.

“We chose ‘Bullies Out’ as our charity as it works with the victims and the bullies themselves.”