MORE than 500 football fans turned out to watch Arsenal’s celebrity team take on an Essex Hands United charity side at FC Clacton’s Rush Green Bowl ground.

The star-studded visitors’ team included ex-Gunner David Hillier, who notched up more than 100 appearances for the club, Ground Force’s Tommy Walsh, Casualty star Patrick Robinson, who played Ash in the long-running drama, and East-Ender and Dancing on Ice contestant Sam Attwater.

Former Colchester United ace Karl Duguid was also in the line-up.

The Arsenal XI won 7-1 but the scoreline, for once, was not important.

Entertainment was provided by X Factor favourite Lydia Lucy and Britain’s Got Talent singer Paul Manners, who forgot the lyrics to his own song on the hit talent show.

There were also a half-time performance by the All Stars cheerleaders.

Essex Hands was set up this year to support local charities.

Founder Marion Knight organised Sunday’s match to raise money for the Wipe Away Those Tears charity.

It helped her disabled son Mikey by getting him an iPad so he could keep up with his schoolwork while he was recovering from operations.

“The day went really, really well,” said Marion, of Great Clacton.

“We’ve raised more than £6,000 and there is still money coming in.

“ Mikey absolutely loved it – they made such a fuss of him. The founder of Wipe Away Those Tears came down and she was lovely to him.”