CHILDLINE founder and TV celebrity Esther Rantzen will be the guest of Malvern and Three Counties Friends of ChildLine at a special evening.

Ms Rantzen is the special guest at a fund-raising quiz evening at Sixways, the home of the Worcester Warriors rugby team, on Friday, March 8.

Ms Rantzen will be talking about the charity, as well as signing copies of her latest book, Running out of Tears, which have been donated by the Malvern Book Co-operative, St Ann’s Road, Malvern.

ChildLine founder Colin Butler, of Malvern, who is chairman of the Friends of ChildLine group, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for people to get together with colleagues, friends or family for a fun – possibly competitive – evening that also helps to raise money for a very worthwhile cause.

“By joining our quiz night people will be helping to ensure that ChildLine continues to be there 24 hours a day online and via the telephone to make sure that no child suffers alone or in silence.”

Mr Butler has known Ms Rantzen since ChildLine’s opening night on October 1988; they are the last remaining volunteers from that night who are still manning phone lines today.

Sarah Williams, NSPCC community fund-raising manager for Worcestershire, said: “This event is great chance for local businesses to pit their wits against each other in a quiz-off. Why not enter as a team building exercise or a staff night out?”

The quiz evening was originally arranged for November but had to be postponed after problems with the original venue.

Tickets are £120 for a table of eight or £15 per person, including a hot supper.

For more information, contact 01684 560219, malvernfoc@ btinternet.com or go to nspcc.org.uk.