SOME of the UK’s leading lights from the entertainment world gathered in Winchester last night (DEC 19).

Winchester College Chapel hosted a Christmas concert in support of the £2.5million appeal to open a Haven Breast Cancer Centre, of which Prince Charles is patron.

A magical evening saw song performances from Rock Choir and former St Swithun's students, plus readings by Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes, actress Sarah Parish, and comedian Hugh Dennis.

The sell-out event also saw performances from two of the stars of Radio4’s The Archers; Charles Collingwood and Judy Bennett.

Sally Taylor, BBC South Today news anchor and chair of The Haven in Wessex fund raising committee, said: “Our capital appeal only launched in March and we have been overwhelmed by the support we have received. Our region has one of the highest incidents of breast cancer in the UK – we need to open The Haven in Wessex as soon as possible and events such as this Christmas Concert will help us do that.”

Specialist nurses and experts in nutrition, exercise, complementary therapies and emotional support provide tailor-made programmes of care for each Visitor to The Haven. It costs around £1,000 to deliver a full suite of therapies to each visitor.