A HOST of the world’s leading snooker players will be swapping the baize for the greens when they line up at Accrington Golf Club for a charity event next year.

Steve Davis, John Higgins and Mark Williams are among the snooker stars who will be trading cues for clubs at the charity event to raise money for the Paul Hunter Foundation.

The event, which takes place on January 23, is the brainchild of Hyndburn councillor Tony Dobson and will feature 18 teams fighting it out for victory.

Organisers are on the hunt for teams of three to enter with a snooker playing making up the fourth member. The minimum cost of a team is £500 but entrants are able to bid higher to ensure they get the snooker player of their choice with Steve Davis having already attracted a bid of more than a £1,000.

Dobson said: “It should be a really good event and it is fantastic to have so many of the top snooker players coming down.

“We still have some more to confirm but we are hopeful of getting most of the current top 20 which would be fantastic.

“Many of them are playing a tournament in Blackpool the day after so that has helped them to commit.

“The event came about when I was at the World Championships and happened to be talking to one of the directors of World Snooker when the conversation of golf came up. It kind of went from there and it’s taken off really.

“We will be confirming a few more names in the coming weeks and then we will just be praying that the weather is ok on the day!”

Spectators are welcome but there is a limit of 500 tickets available priced at £5 in advance and £10 on the day subject to availability.

The golf action begins at 11am with a shotgun start with an evening event planned which will include a buffet for the teams and the chance for specators to take part in an auction with a host of sporting memorabilia up for grabs as well as the chance to win a car.

Dobson added: “We’re so grateful to the snooker pros and the golf club for giving their time so generously to raise money for this fantastic cause.

“It’s set to be a great day, and so please register your team now and help us raise as much money as we can for the Paul Hunter Foundation.”

All proceeds from the charity golf day will go to the foundation which was established in 2006 in memory of snooker star Hunter to give disadvantaged, able bodied and disabled youngsters an opportunity to play snooker.

To register a team and for details visit www.paulhuntercharitygolfday.co.uk or call Tony Dobson on 07774 470870.