Terry Maughan of Longframlington is hosting a fundraising event for the North East charity on Sunday August 24 and, as the venue is an aircraft hangar, he is expecting as many guests to travel by air as by road.

Along with business partner Eddie McCowan, Terry owns The New Inn in the village, as well as The Farriers Arms in Shilbottle. For the last three years the pair have organised the Hangar Bash in aid of charity and this year decided to raise money for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Terry said: "Last year over 200 people came along to the Hangar Bash in aid of an Indian street children rescue charity. It was a great day and a lot of fun and we are looking forward to making this year's event even bigger and better.

"We wanted to do something to benefit a local cause and as I've lost several family members to cancer this really confirmed our choice to back Sir Bobby.Cancer is something that affects us all and he is doing something practical for the people of the North East to help the experts beat it.

"We've already raised £350 from a fun casino night and this has been matched by Fram Park Log Cabins in Longframlington making a total £700 to kick start the Hangar Bash fundraising efforts!"

Events at the Hangar Bash will include aerial games with competing aircrafts, live music and a charity auction. It will start at 4pm and tickets for the day are £12, including the option to camp overnight, and £6 for children.

Despite fighting his own personal ongoing battle with cancer, 75-year-old Sir Bobby Robson launched a wider campaign this year to help the experts beat the disease, and the figure raised by the charity now stands at nearly £700,000.

Money has already been handed over to set up a Cancer Trials Research Centre at the new Northern Centre for Cancer Care in Newcastle, which will treat patients from across the whole North East. Now the Foundation is working with regional cancer projects to identify priority need for funding.

Sir Bobby says: "I'm grateful to Terry and Eddie for their efforts and hope the Hangar Bash goes well. It's a very imaginative way to raise money and I hope the weather will be kind on the day!

"I'm very touched at the support we're receiving for the Foundation from all across the region - from Northumberland all the way down to Teesside. I know the generosity of people in this region but it's still incredible to me that we've raised as much as £700,000 in such a short space of time.

"My wife Lady Elsie and I will sign every cheque on behalf of the Foundation personally and will ensure every penny is put to the best use to help fight cancer in the North East."

To purchase a ticket for the Hangar Bash visit The New Inn in Longframlington or for more information call 01665 570502.

To make a donation, view messages of support, or for more information on The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, please visit www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.co.uk or donate by sending a cheque to Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, PO Box 307, Heaton NE7 7QG.