A Witney man has put up £4,000 of his own money to lay on the town's biggest ever darts event.

Colin Smith has been playing the indoor game since a teenager and has lined up darts legends John Lowe, who he has got know as a friend, Eric Bristow, Keith Deller and Cliff Lazarenko.

The event, An Evening with legends of Darts, is at the Langdale Hall tonight and is raising money for two cancer charities.

Mr Smith, 50, finance manager for the Basildon chemical company, in Abingdon, lost his own father to prostate cancer in 1999 and saw his sister-in-law diagnosed with breast cancer.

The big night follows qualifying matches at The Three Pigeons, The Carpenters Arms and The Elm Tree.

The winners - Gaynor Batts, Mervin Keen and Paddy Kearns - will, along with a 'wild card' player, line up to take on the four professionals on stage.

A less serious challenge, to help boost charity fundraising, will involve Witney's town mayor Chrissie Curry.

Bringing top players to his home town is a dream come true for Mr Smith, who once played in The News of the World tournament and is current captain of The Three Pigeons A team, playing in the Witney and District League.

"I had the idea of doing something more grand than just an exhibition evening for darts," he said.

"I have got to know John Lowe quite well over the past four years, with his annual visits to The Three Pigeons doing exhibitions."

Last year he came to know John Lowe better, after playing in Barbados for the Caribbean Darts festival hosted by the player.

He said: "The event is costing me just under £4,000 to stage. I believe so much in the concept of having four top players playing competitively with a sprinkling of local talent," he added.

The evening, starting at 7.30pm, has attracted support from The Trophy Shop in Corn Street, the Wychwood Brewery and the group Dirty Earth Band.

Darts fans will be travelling to the town from as far as Newcastle.

Tickets are £25, including a ploughman's meal, and they can be bought from The Three Pigeons, 01993 702803, or Mr Smith, 01993 704715 - or by emailing colin@smith96.eclipse.co.uk