Sam Alabaster felt the love of his Morrisons colleagues and the wider Isle of Wight community when a football match was played in his honour on Sunday.

Morrisons Newport employee Sam, who is married with two young daughters, has Stage 4 colo-rectal cancer and his workmates and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service did battle on the pitch at Fairway Park, Lake, to raise money for his family.

Although the Morrisons team (which also comprised former colleagues from the Lake store and Sam's friends) went down 8-1 to the Fire Service, the important thing was nearly £1,500 was raised.

Steve Chapman, one of the organisers alongside Paul Westmore, said: "It was an amazing effort and I have to thank the 100 or so people who came out to watch."

Steve also thanked Sam Kean Marketing, Simon Ioannou, Sandown and Lake Youth FC for the pitch, Jacqui Middlemiss for the tuck shop and Coffee Bubble wagon for refreshments.

As well as the football game, cash is also being gathered through a fundraising page HERE