An eBay charity auction is offering bidders a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play cricket at New Road against a team of TV soap stars.

The highest bidder in the St Richard's Hospice auction will be turning out at the home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club in the celebrity Twenty/20 game on Sunday, September 10.

Stars from Emmerdale will face a team of Worcestershire 'faces', including Steve Rhodes, David Leatherdale, Stuart Lampitt, Adam Seymour, Philip Serrell and James Braxton from BBC TV Flog It and Bargain Hunt, and DJ Stoney from Wyvern Fm.

St Richard's Hospice fund-raising manager Tricia Cavell said: "I'm sure there are many people who have a burning desire to play at New Road. It's such a rare opportunity that we hope to have a huge interest from bidders."

Bids can be placed by visiting the eBay website and searching for 'sporting goods', then 'cricket', and the item is listed under 'other cricket'. The auction is open until tomorrow.

Tickets are selling well for the match, which starts at noon (gates open at 10.30am). Entry is £3 (£10 for a group of four), and every ticket sold in advance will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to join the celebrities for tea in the VIP marquee.

The fun day will also include face painting, music and entertainment from Wyvern FM, which is supporting the event. On the evening before the match, St Richard's is hosting a gala dinner with the celebrity guests at Worcester Racecourse.

Tickets for the three-course dinner and live music are £35 per person. The after-dinner speaker will be a member of the Emmerdale cast. Corporate hospitality and sponsorship packages are available for both events.

Tickets for the celebrity match are available from St Richard's Hospice shops.

For details on the gala dinner, call the fund raising office on 01905 763963.

The new hospice at Spetchley is due to open in the autumn. The building will include specialist hospice beds. Fund-raisers need to generate £2.8 million annually maintain the hospice.