JAMES Bond star Daniel Craig has urged people to join him in supporting the Shropshire Virtual Show.

The new online event, which takes place this Saturday, is aiming to raise money for local charities.

Craig, aged 52, who will star as 007 for the final time in the film No Time to Die this November, has links to Shropshire through family.

The actor also used to enjoy a drink at The Jack Mytton Inn in Hindford, near Whittington.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s virtual show, Craig highlighted the importance of helping charities during what has been a difficult time for them.

He said: “It's never been more important to support these small charities who are unable to do their usual fundraising activities at the moment.

“Please do join them on August 22 at shropshirevirtualshow.com.”

His support has been welcomed by the show’s organisers, who have put together an exciting day of music, entertainment, competitions and shopping experiences to raise money for five local charities.

Selina Graham, co-organiser of the Shropshire Virtual Show, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Daniel Craig for getting behind our show.

“It has been created from scratch and is a real labour of love – put together by local people to raise funds for organisations that support local people, which are needed now more than ever.”

One of the highlights of the day is a display of exhilarating fight scenes – which wouldn’t be out of place in a Bond movie – by Upper Cut Fight Company.

Run by actors and fight coordinators Christopher Round and Dean Ridge, the duo have produced a film exclusively for the show that gives an insight into stunt fight training, including how some of film’s best-known sequences were shot.

Mr Round said: “If you have ever watched a fight scene in a film or TV show and thought ‘I wonder how they do that?’, then tune in to the Shropshire Virtual Show this Saturday and we’ll share with you how.

“Like most people, our usual plans – including our workshops – have been put on-hold this year.

“While disappointing, it does mean that we can support the show, entertain people at home and hopefully raise lots of money for some fantastic local charities.”

Upper Cut’s performance is part of the daytime line up on the main stage, which is sponsored by DM Recruitment and one of eight ‘arenas’ hosting over 70 other performances, films and workshops, between 10am and 9pm.

Other highlights include cooking demonstrations from celebrity chefs Marcus Bean, ‘Shropshire Lad’ Adam Purnell and MasterChef winner Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed.

There will also be a magical tale about a dream that comes to life from equestrian theatre team Theatrick and an ‘access all areas’ video for the spectacular Circus Funtasia.

The charities being supported by the event are The Cavalier Centre, League of Friends to the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt (RJAH) Orthopaedic Hospital, The Movement Centre, Dog A.I.D. and Shropshire Rural Communities Charity.

For more information about the show, visit www.shropshirevirtualshow.com and follow @shropshirevirtualshow on Facebook and Instagram.