STARS turned out in force last night to help raise more than £60,000 for a North-East hospice.

Among them was Premiership star Alan Shearer, who honoured his promise that he would co-host the fundraising dinner, in aid of the Hartlepool and District Hospice, despite playing a crucial game only a couple of hours earlier.

The striker made a 200-mile dash from Birmingham to be at the event, at The Tall Trees Hotel, in Yarm, Stockton.

Also at the event were Darlington FC manager David Hodgson, Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper, comic Steve Boardman, former Sunderland player Bobby Kerr, and former Magpies captain Bobby Moncur.

The glittering night was organised by Century FM DJ Paul "Goffy" Gough following the death, last year, of his sister, Angela O'Hara, 54, from cancer.

He wanted to pay tribute to her life while also raising money for the hospice, which cared for the mother-of-two in the months before she died.

Shearer said: "I get asked to hundreds of events. But I really wanted to support this one. Goffy has been a very good friend and I wanted to help in some way at this worthwhile event."

His words were echoed by Middlesbrough FC manager Steve McClaren, who said: "I am delighted to support such a worthwhile cause."

The money raised will be used to fund landscaping and the creation of gardens at the hospice's new site at Wells Avenue, Hartlepool.

It will also pay for the 24-hour helpline service for patients and their families.

An emotional Paul Gough, who organised the event in conjunction with his friend, Garry Thorburn, revealed it had been put together in record time.

He said: "We started in January and set ourselves a target of £30,000, but we surpassed that even before the night began.

"The hospice was fantastic to Angela and I know she will have been watching over us and would be thrilled at what has been achieved."