Former Norwich City star Cedric Anselin will take centre stage next month to open a summer fete put on by the region's mental health trust.

Eastern Daily Press: Hellesdon Hospital. Photo: NSFTHellesdon Hospital. Photo: NSFT (Image: NSFT)

Mr Anselin, who has bravely spoken out about his mental illness, will invite children to take him on in a penalty shoot out at the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) summer fete on July 22, from 11am, at Hellesdon Hospital.

Alongside information about mental health conditions and support that is on offer locally, there will be all the offerings of a traditional summer fete when the event takes place next month.

Around 20 musicians from the Hellesdon and Sprowston Brass Band will play live music will play throughout the day, along with European jazz band Moxette, and Mind the Gap.

Children will be able to enjoy their very own area featuring face painting, a teddy tombola and traditional fete games such as hook a duck and a coconut shy.

Eastern Daily Press: Hellesdon Hospital. Photo: NSFTHellesdon Hospital. Photo: NSFT (Image: NSFT)

A wellbeing zone will be set up for people to try reflexology (from 11am to 1pm), tai chi and massage and to find out more about the trust's wellbeing services based in both Suffolk and Norfolk and Waveney.

NSFT therapy staff are busy growing flowers, fruit and vegetables with service users to sell on the day. The Glaven ward occupational therapy garden, based at Hellesdon Hospital has come a long way since April, when it was just four patches of weeds.

Vikki Westwood, an activities co-ordinator at the trust, who has been involved with the gardening project said: 'We now have radishes, lettuces, tomatoes, chillies and peppers growing and ripening well in the sun.

'We have been making up containers and hanging baskets with a colourful selection of flowers, which we also hope to sell at the fete.

Eastern Daily Press: NSFT Deputy Director of Nursing, Dawn Collins. Photo: NSFTNSFT Deputy Director of Nursing, Dawn Collins. Photo: NSFT (Image: NSFT)

'We find that many of our service users enjoy gardening, it is a great form of exercise, builds their confidence in their abilities and is great for learning skills such as budgeting, planning organisation.

'We are looking forward to seeing everyone's efforts rewarded by the sale of produce generating funds towards our trust's charitable fund project raising money for a multi-use games area on the Hellesdon Hospital site. We hope this is something we will be able to continue to build on in the future.'

The event is being run by trust staff, who are volunteering their own time to organise the day, and it is being generously supported by local businesses.

NSFT's deputy director of nursing, Dawn Collins, said: 'Local businesses have really got behind the event and have been extremely generous in sponsoring and donating prizes. Thanks to them, we have been able to make the event cost neutral and will hopefully raise lots of money for our charitable fund to buy those added extras for the comfort of our service users.'

Raffle prizes include a £200 Intu Chapelfield voucher, a £100 John Lewis voucher, two tickets to Newmarket Races Dubai Festival, a three-course Sunday lunch for two at Park Farm Hotel and two day passes for spa facilitates at Dunston Hall. Tickets are £2.50 for a book of five or 50p per ticket and can be purchased from Hellesdon Hospital reception or will be available on the day.

A BBQ and mock-tail stand, cake stall, crème teas, ice creams and refreshments will be available throughout the day.

It's free entry to the event, which runs from 11am to 4pm at Hellesdon Hospital (Drayton High Road, Norwich NR6 5BE).