An Emmerdale celebrity charity cricket match, which has raised more than £100,000 in the past, will go ahead this year after being twice cancelled because of Covid.

For 20 years the tiny village cricket team at Crakehall, near Bedale, played host to celebrities from ITV’s show Emmerdale to raise money for charity. Last year the match was all set to go ahead but stars from the show had to pull out at the last minute because of Covid concerns.

Now organiser Luke Haslam said they are determined the event will go ahead on August 14. He added: “I am pleased to say that we are able to proceed as planned with the Crakehall Emmerdale charity cricket day this year on Sunday, August 14. We are raising money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and having had to cancel the game because of Covid in the last two years we would love to raise as much as we can for their charity.”

Last year the village held a family fun day instead. This year they will be having entertainment, stalls and refreshments as well as the cricket match which Mr Haslam says is never a very competitive event.

He added: “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 organiser and always attends and brings members of the cast along."

Sponsors of the event are Theakstons and Marshall Woolridge insurance who Mr Haslam said had kindly agreed to sponsor the players caps for the day and the first prize of £250 in the raffle.