Former Wiltshire County Pool players reunited for a charity match at The Black Pearl in Trowbridge on Sunday to raise money for Trowbridge special needs nursery Stepping Stones.

The event saw former Wiltshire County Pool players face the current members in a one-off challenge for the charity, with the ladies’ squads also facing each other across the table.

Players paid £3 to take part and there was also a raffle, featuring prizes such as a meal voucher for The Longs Arms at Yarnbrook and a free night of pool with pizza for two at The Royal Sports Bar in Chippenham.

The event raised almost £600 for Stepping Stones, with the current men’s team coming out on top against the retro team, while the retro ladies team beat the current ladies team.

Russ Matthews, who organised the event with Tammy Newbury at The Black Pearl, said: “It went brilliantly and it is absolutely fantastic to be able to raise such a good sum for Stepping Stones.

“I had so many people coming up to me and saying that it was great.

“The past players were delighted to get back together and catch up, as some haven’t seen each other for years, and the atmosphere was great all day.

“There was lots of joviality and all the games were played in the right spirit.

“The real winner on the day was Stepping Stones, though, and while it was competitive, the main thing was to raise lots of money.

“We want to thank everyone who got involved or bought raffle tickets, especially friends of ours at The Black Horse and The Dursley Arms.

“It couldn’t have gone any better and it was great to be part of something so positive.”

Stepping Stones, which helps children in west Wiltshire with learning difficulties and disabilities, lost £10,000 of funding from Wiltshire Council in February, after central government withdrew its Aiming High For Disabled Children grants.

This left the centre needing to raise £50,000 a year and prompted the Wiltshire Times to launch a campaign to make up the shortfall.

The total now stands at more than £12,000.