A TRADITIONAL All Star cricket match pitching celebrities from ITV soap Emmerdale against a village team is going ahead organisers have revealed.

After the relaxing of restrictions this week Crakehall Cricket Club, near Bedale, said they will be hosting their annual charity cricket day with members of the cast of the ITV soap Emmerdale on Sunday August 8. It’s been held for more than 20 years raising over £100,000 for charities.

Organiser Luke Haslam said it would be especially good to be back after having to cancel last years event because of the pandemic.

He added: "We had been holding off announcing it in case the restrictions were not relaxed, but now we can say it is going ahead and we are really looking forward to it. It’s now become a real day for all the family rather than simply a cricket match and many people from Crakehall join in.

"It’s astonishing people come from all over the country, last time we held it a gentleman from Farnborough, 250 miles away, rang me to ask for information because he was planning to come up specially for the match. It is extremely light hearted, we can’t pretend our cricketing skills are that impressive. The whole point is to have a really good day and raise money for charity.

"We never really know who is going to turn up for the Emmerdale team, Chris Chittell who plays Eric Pollard is the main organizer and always attends and he tends to bring five or six other members of the cast.

"We take turns choosing which charity should benefit and the Emmerdale All Stars have chosen the Yorkshire Air ambulance."

Alongside the cricket there are stalls, raffles and children’s entertainment, the event starts at noon.