CRICKET stars turned out to help raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Essex players Ryan ten Doeschate, Graham Napier and TomWestley appeared for a charity team against a select Harwich and Dovercourt Cricket Club XI to raise a total of £3,135 for disability charity Scope.

The trio travelled down from Chelmsford because of ten Doeschate’s friendship with Dovercourt teenager Connor Simpson, who suffers from cerebral palsy and has been supported by Scope in the past.

There was a crowd of more than 500 people, while live music from the Deserters and a set from DJ Stu and Daisy kept the party going long into the night.

Connor’s uncle Carl Jobling helped organise the day and was hit for six by the response.

He said: “The day was a great success.

“In the match, Harwich needed two from the last ball to win, but Kevin Simpson had their batsman stumped by Ryan for a Team Scope victory.

“He and Tom had both hit unbeaten 50s, including some big sixes, and Graham was not out for a total of 168.

“Mark Griggs also hit an unbeaten 50 for Harwich.”