The glitz and glamour of Hollywood movie premieres was nowhere to be seen at Basildon's UCI cinema - as invited celebrities shunned a worthy cause.
Stars of the big screen, football players, pop groups and soap characters were all asked along to help raise cash for the Basildon and Thurrock branch of breast cancer support group, Bosom Friends.
In the end, it was the generous ordinary people who saved the day, banding together to raise an impressive £6,250.
All those who paid £20 for a gold ticket were taken to the Forte Posthouse, on Festival Leisure Park, for an auction of goods donated by local companies and teams.
A Southend United football shirt fetched £100 while a year's free admission to any UCI cinema for two people went for £300.
Sporting chance - UCI manager Ian Duffield and UK Breast Cancer Coalition president Nancy Roberts show off two of the signed sporting items in the auction
Picture: LLUAN MARSHALL
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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