AUF Wiedersehen Pet star Tim Healy got into the swing of things for a police golf tournament when he visited this year's nominated charity.

A keen golfer, Healy, who recently returned to TV screens as Dennis in the hit series, will line up alongside professionals, business people and police players to raise cash for the North of England Children's Cancer Research Fund.

All money raised by the tournament will go towards vital research into the causes and treatment of childhood cancer.

Yesterday, he got an insight into work carried out to combat the disease when he visited patients in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Northumbria Police Assistant Chief Constable Paul Leighton, chairman of the force's pro-am golf tournament committee, said: "Not only will this be a superb day's golf, in magnificent settings, this year's charity will also benefit from thousands of pounds we expect to raise."

Professor Andrew Hall, a senior researcher at Newcastle University whose work is supported by the charity, said: "Money provided by events such as this enables us to continue our work into finding out what causes children's cancer and helps us devise new and better ways to treat children who are affected."

Entry costs £300 for a team of three and that includes a meal and a professional player for the round.

Anyone interested in entering a team should contact Lynn Bell at Northumbria Police on (01661) 872 555, ext 68013, for more information.