Sports fans flocked to Brighton to watch TV stars and football heroes thrash an RAF team in a charity match.

Ralf Little, who played suffering Antony in the Royle Family, flew in for the sell-out game at Withdean Stadium, scoring a goal for the All Stars team.

About 1,500 spectators watched fellow team member Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs in Coronation Street, score a hat-trick in brilliant sunshine on Sunday.

Ex-England player Viv Anderson, Merseybeat's Chris Walker and Corrie's Dean Ashton also stepped on to the pitch to raise money for St Dunstan's, which helps blind ex-servicemen and women, and Southern FM's Help a Local Child.

The opposing side, the RAF Careers Information Services team, included a hot looking Ivor Caplin, MP for Hove.

The event kicked off with sky divers the Black Knights, from the Royal Artillery Army, parachuting on to the pitch to deliver the ball for start of play.

Visitors also saw a display in unarmed combat by the RAF and got a chance to get up close to an RAF Harrier Jet.

But the highlight of the day was the football match in which the All Stars beat the RAF team 6-1.

Tony Steenson, the All Stars manager and former Preston North End Football Club player, said: "We've had a great day.

"These lads love football and if we can raise money for great charities at the same time, so much the better."

He said Little and Halsall were the team's star players.

Little said: "It's great to come to lovely Brighton and play in front of such a great crowd.

"I may have a few pints in the city after the game if I have time."

Halsall, who also starred in Heartbeat and Queer As Folk, said the day had particular significance for him.

He said: "My nanna was blind, so this charity is very close to my heart.

"It's great to come down here and help raise money."

Organisers were hoping to raise about £10,000 from the day, which included a raffle and a half-time penalty shootout for children.