A host of Emmerdale stars have joined the glittering cast of a gala variety show in memory of murdered PC Sharon Beshenivsky.

The Yorkshire soap stars will appear at St George's Hall on February 12 alongside actors from rival soaps, West End names and the West Yorkshire Police band to raise to raise money for the WPC Sharon Beshenivsky Fund.

Matthew Bose, who plays Paul Lambert in the series, said he had no problems rousing support from his fellow cast members.

The 31-year-old actor, who lives in the Bradford district, said: "I know some people who are involved in the gala and thought it was a good idea. I was talking about it in the green room and lots of people were interested. I knew people would go for it and I am glad everyone is excited about it."

"It is local community issue for us and what happened was shocking on a national level. I live in the Bradford area and it's very close to home. The aftermath of these things are also tricky on so many levels. You think of the young children who have been left behind and the fact it was PC Beshenivsky's daughter's birthday is awful. Some of the cast have children and they feel it."

Matthew will introduce his colleagues on the night including Verity Rushworth (Donna Windsor), Hayley Tamaddon (Delilah Dingle), Dale Meeks (Simon Meredith), Tom Lister (Carl King), Richard Shelton (Dr Adam Forsythe), Tony Audenshaw (Bob Hope) and Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle).

The audience at St George's Hall will be in for a treat from the talented Emmerdale cast who will be singing some well known tunes and who promise a few surprises too.

"I think it will be a fantastic night," said Matthew.

"From our point of view it gives people chance to see actors from the show do things they would not they will not see them do anywhere else. The gala is a great opportunity for us to do something local and to make a real difference."

Some 400 tickets have already been sold for the show, which will also feature Dean Gafney of EastEnders and ex-Brookside actor Michael Starky.

West End singer and winner of New Faces Michael Sterling, who played the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera and Valjon in Les Miserables, will also be leading a cast of singer actors from London and Dublin.

Organisers Daniel Coll (who has just returned to Yorkshire after a year playing Billy's alternate dad in Billy Elliot) and brother Stuart Wade (Biff of Emmerdale fame) got involved because they feel Sharon's family should be supported financially by the people in Bradford.

Tickets are available from St George's Hall box office on (01274) 432000.

PC Beshenivsky, 38, was shot dead after responding to an alarm at the Universal Express travel agents on Morley Street on November 18 last year.

She left a husband, Paul, three children and two step-children. Two men have been charged with PC Beshenivsky's murder and are due for trial this year.

The search continues for a third suspect, Mustaf Jama, 25. He has strong links to the Midlands and police believe he is still in the UK.