A FORMER Olympic skier will be guest in a Cheshire village which will be hosting its inaugural soap box derby to raise money for charity.

Eddie Edwards, known as 'Eddie the Eagle' represented Great Britain in the 1988 Winter Olympics and he will be in Farndon to attend the Farndon Soap Box Derby on Sunday, September 18 and will be handing out prizes to winners of the event.

The organisers hope for a fun day and to raise money for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Chester.

A spokesperson for the event said local people put it together and added it had been supported by local businesses.

They added: "This incredible event has been entirely pulled together by a group of local Farndon residents who really wanted the village to have something special to look forward to after the Covid years and have been working tirelessly for nearly two years to make the event a great success.

"The Farndon Primary School will be the social hub of the event and is hosting a full day of entertainment in the playing fields where a wide variety of local produce, hot and cold food and beverages, artisan stalls and musical talents can be savoured and enjoyed by all.

"The event has been generously sponsored by local Cheshire businesses and entrepreneurs who all saw the value in getting behind such a fun, innovative, community event that would also raise money for a very worthy charity.

"Gittins and Co were the first to approach the organisers as our primary platinum sponsor, swiftly followed by the Rickitt Partnership, Kenney Moore, Ellis and Co, Daulby Read and RF Bellis Haulage to name a few."

The first race will be at midday and prizegiving will be at 5pm.

For more information visit https://www.farndonsoapboxderby.co.uk/ or https://www.facebook.com/farndonsoapboxderby