CELEBRITIES and sporting legends took to the crease for the star-studded Ramsbottom Festival of Cricket.

More than 1,750 people headed to Ramsbottom Cricket Club on Friday to enjoy a smash-hit day of sporting activities.

It started with former England players from the PCA (Professional Cricketers’ Association) Masters team holding a training session for junior cricketers.

In the afternoon, the team played a match against Ramsbottom Cricket Club’s first team, with the legends emerging the victors.

The all-star team featured Steve Harmison, Neil Fairbrother, Dominic Cork, Alex Tudor, Paul Nixon, Anthony McGrath, Warren Hegg, Ian Austin, Ajmal Shahzad, Dean Headley and Chris Schofield.

It was followed by Ramsbottom Traders cricket team beating a team of celebrities, which included actors Mikey North and Graham Hawley, from Coronation Street, William Ash from Waterloo Road, and comedians Justin Moorhouse and Ted Robbins.

The players spent time meeting fans, posing for photographs and signing autographs.

Money is still being counted, but about £6,000 is thought to have been raised for the cricket club.

Donations were also collected for Bury Hospice and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

John Fox, from the festival committee, said: “Everything went better than we could have hoped.

“We are waiting to hear how much Bury Hospice raised, but Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research raised £700 just with a raffle. It was a really good day and both charities did very well.

“A lot of people came down and had a good day.”

With the inaugural festival proving such a success, it could make a return to Ramsbottom — but cricket fans may have to wait two years.

Mr Fox said: “It took an awful lot of organising and lots of people gave up their time. It took nine months to plan.

“I would love to do it again, but I probably need a year off.”