Pool players' charity match beats fundraising target

A charity pool tournament - which paired professional players with north Norfolk amateurs - has been hailed a great success after organisers smashed their fundraising target.

The unlikely pairs, which included a chef, taxi driver and 13-year-old schoolgirl among the homegrown novices, battled it out on tables at the Sutton Staithe Hotel.

But it was accountant Roger Emery who won last Thursday's match with his pro partner Karl Sutton, who also happened to be the most local champion hailing from Lowestoft.

At the end of the night a cheque for �10,000 was presented to pool legend Carl Morris who will now go on to donate it to the Against Breast Cancer charity.

Hotel owner Damion Millward said the evening had gone 'very well' and donations were still pouring in, beating his �10,00 target.

But the pool table action did not stop there as the charity doubles game was a prelude to the first ever Broads Classic Pool Tournament, which featured the 16 pros.

The final was broadcast to pool enthusiasts around the world via the internet, who watched as multiple tour winner Marc Farnsworth beat favourite Gareth Potts to scoop the �6,500 prize money.

Plans are already underway for next year's tournament and charity match, which hopes to feature 32 top players and amateurs in an attempt to double this year's fundraising.