A FORMER Hollyoaks star joined 39 other brave souls in a York firewalk to raise funds funds for Candlelighters, Yorkshire’s children’s cancer charity.

Stuart Manning, who played Russ Owen in the TV soap, walked over burning coals at a temperature of 1,200F in an event staged on Wednesday evening outside the Hospitium in York’s Museum Gardens.

Stuart hoped to raise £500 to help the charity meet its target of £10,000. By yesterday, he had raised £426 and the charity had already gained at least £13,000, with more money still to come in, said a spokeswoman.

She said the event had been a great success, with 40 people – many the parents of current or former young cancer patients – taking part in the walk and more than 100 spectators paying to watch. She said Stuart had really enjoyed taking part.

The spokeswoman said: “He said it had been an amazing experience and there was a great atmosphere.”

Stuart, who appeared in the hit TV programme, I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, in 2009, said walking over hot coals was “a breeze” compared with the courage shown by children fighting cancer every day.

“I’m delighted to help raise funds for Candlelighters, because it is such a worthy cause,” he said. “I cannot imagine how families cope when their child is fighting cancer.”

The spokeswoman said the money raised would help the charity in its work of providing vital support to children fighting cancer and their families.

“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, lives are turned upside down in an instant, not just for the child but for parents, siblings, family and friends.”