LINE dancing, Caribbean music, cricket and football may sound like a strange mixture, but visitors to Fulwood Barracks couldn't get enough of the entertainment.

The barracks organised the event to raise cash for two charities - the Joanna Lumley Children's Leukaemia Fund and a fund in aid of ex-servicemen's leg injuries.

It was the fifth year that the Sergeant Mess Regiment took on WS Atkins Building Contractors cricket teams competed together. And new kids on the block, Ashworth's Pies, also put their energy into the fund-raising.

Management at the Pitman Lane pie factory, in Fulwood, challenged their staff to a game of football.

Garrison Sergeant Major Rod Coates, who organised the day with Brian Baines and Charles Gorton, was delighted by Ashworth Pies' participation.

He said: "We intended to make this years cricket match a bigger event and when Ashworths pies gave us £150 for charity we were glad to let them use the barracks football pitch."

Although competition was strong on the field, it was all in good fun and more than 500 people turned up to enjoy the day.

Mr Coates said: "It was a really good family day out. Everyone had a good time because there was something for everyone to do."

Magicians and face-painters were popular with the children while their parents competed on the playing fields in unpredictable weather conditions.

More than £600 was raised with £300 going to the leukaemia fund and £300 towards an electric wheelchair for ex-serviceman Ray Turner.

Mr Coates said: "It was great to be able to help Ray out because he was a real hero in the Second World War, where he picked up bad leg injuries, so I'd like to say thanks to everyone who came."

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