A charity football match for flood victims pitted Norfolk MPs against firefighters, paramedics and police drew a crowd to Great Yarmouth’s Wellesley Road ground.
BBC Norfolk presenter Nick Conrad teamed up with Great Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis to organise the event in aid of the EDP Norfolk and Lowestoft Flood Appeal.
Speaking before the 10.30am kick-off Mr Lewis, the fire minister who has had recent run-ins with the Fire Brigades Union over pension reforms, said he had come prepared - wearing several shin pads, but the main aim was to have fun and raise money for a good cause.
Broadland MP Keith Simpson brought along his coaching manual, Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, just in case.
By half time the emergency services were up 5-1.
As the second half continued, political reporter for the Daily Telegraph Christopher Hope and former Norwich City FC player Rob Newman, now a scout for Manchester City, were drafted in to give the MP’s team a fighting chance. But when the final whistle blew, it was the emergency services who claimed victory 6-2.
Referee for the charity game was MP for Daventry Chris Heaton-Harris.
Yarmouth brewery Lacons sponsored the game, while the east coast cadet group TS Warrior provided pre-match and half-time entertainment.
Money collected from the crowd today will go towards the EDP Norfolk and Lowestoft Flood Appeal which has so far raised £230,000 for those affected by the December storm surge.