A CELEBRITY cricket match raised more than £15,000 for charity this week, as ex-England captain Mike Gatting headed a star studded team at Marlow Cricket Club.

The club, in Pound Lane, welcomed Mr Gatting, several members of the current Middlesex squad, and various other celebrities, including the BBC's John Ketley, as they took on a mixed team from Marlow.

Dubbed the Lord's Taverners Celebrity Cricket Match, the event, played on behalf of the official Lords based cricket charity, was held on Tuesday.

And it was the Yankee Wanderers team, which included Marlow businessmen and cricket players that won the day, defeating Mr Gatting's Lord's Taverners team in the final over.

Chairman of the cricket club Barry Stone said: "It was very close in the end and was decided in the last over.

"They Mr Gatting's team did want to win but a guy smacked a couple of sixes more than Mike was expecting."

Mr Gatting is the president of the Lord's Taverners charity, which raises money which goes towards projects involving young people with special needs.

In the past the charity has paid for playing fields, equipment and minibuses for young players.

Thousands of pounds for the celebrity event was pledged through local and international businesses, and a charity auction raised more than £5,000 with prizes including holidays.

Members of the public visited the ground between 2pm and 6.30pm to see some of their heroes.