A NORTH Yorkshire brewery will again support an annual charity cricket match this summer.

Crakehall Cricket Club has played against an Emmerdale Celebrity XI for the last 15 years, and presented money raised by the game to local good causes.

Masham brewer T&R Theakston Ltd, which sponsors the Nidderdale Cricket League, will support the game again this year, with a donation of branded cricket shirts and barrels of beer.

John Shephard is chairman of Crakehall Cricket Club and also runs the village’s Bay Horse pub, and said the match on Sunday, August 9, could see Emmerdale stars joined by players from Coronation Street as well.

He said: "Even though last year’s match was rained off we still raised in excess of £3,000. This year, we are raising funds to help refurbish a hydrotherapy pool at The Dales School, at Morton-on-Swale, near Northallerton.

"Once again we are really pleased to have Theakston’s support, which means a great deal to us. When our original sponsor pulled out a few years ago, Theakston’s very kindly stepped into the breach and literally saved the day. Their support comes in the form of donating three barrels of Lightfoot Ale, which is then sold in the beer tent."