LIVERPOOL came to the Ribble Valley today to raise money for the city's Alder Hey Hospital.

The Scouse party was organised Waddington Methodist Church's the Rev Mark Sleet and his wife Karen to say thank you for the treatment and care the hospital gave two of their children.

And the popular Liverpudlian stew, scouse, was the dish of the day at the International Scouse Day event, with proceeds going to the hospital's Rocking Horse Appeal.

As the biggest and busiest children's hospital in western Europe, Alder Hey is a centre of excellence in the pioneering treatment of childhood cancer, and has treated youngsters from all over the world, including Bosnia, Kenya, Cayman, Poland and Russia.

The Alder Hey Rocking Horse Appeal aims to raise £10 million to build the UK's first integrated unit for the treatment of children with cancer. Work on the building has begun and just £1.6 million is needed to reach the target.

Fresh meat for the scouse was donated by Clitheroe butchers Harrison and Kerr, although the stew is traditionally made from left-over meat.

The Scouse party at Waddington Methodist Church was serving lunch from 12.15 to 1.30pm.

To mark International Scouse Day, people from all over the world will be eating the stew while raising funds for the appeal, including famous Scousers Sir Paul McCartney, Craig Charles and Cilla Black.