MATTHEW Kelly and half-a-dozen other showbiz stars helped raise about £20,000 for the Winsford NeuroMuscular Centre.

As is now usual, Matthew hosted the Centre’s annual Spirit of Christmas concert at Chester Cathedral and he was joined this year by celebrities Jemma Redgrave, Christopher Timothy, Philip Jackson, Jamie Glover, Trudie Goodwin and Carey Mulligan.

Spirit of Christmas is in its 12th year. The charity helps people with muscular dystrophy stay as healthy as possible and enables many to train and gain employment.

Matthew Kelly said: “I love this event. It gets Christmas off to a cracking start. I’m proud to be associated with it and the centre, which supports hundreds of families affected by muscular dystrophy in Cheshire.”