THREE charities will benefit from more than £4,000 of donations off the back of a charity dinner which included a lengthy speech from ex-professional footballer Matt Le Tissier.

Le Tissier, famed for his accuracy in dead ball situations throughout his time at Southampton, was the chief speaker at a dinner arranged by Swindon Old Town Rotary Club on Monday evening in Blunsdon House Hotel.

Former Swindon Town player Phil King acted as master of ceremonies for the evening, which also included a meal, raffle, auction and comedy set from Bob Webb.

The auction, which included golf days at Bowood House near Calne and a tour of the House of Commons with South Swindon MP Robert Buckland, pulled in the majority of the money raised.

Swindon Foodbank, Facing Africa, which helps survivors of the disease Noma, and Naomi House, a children’s hospice, will benefit from the money raised.

Ian Perkins, a member of the rotary club, said: “He talked about his experiences in football.

“In the past, Phil King has had to ask people to leave the room if they continue to talk over the speaker, but on this occasion everyone was captivated. He came across as a really genuine bloke. There was a lot of humour in his stories.”