‘JUNGLE’ favourite and football legend Harry Redknapp was visibly touched by the work done by the Forest Children’s Opportunity Centre in supporting families of youngsters with special needs.

Harry established himself as a great favourite with the 210 people who had come to hear him speak at Bell’s Hotel and support the work of the centre.

Among those who greeted Harry on arrival at Bell’s were Sarah, Scott, Elsie and Harvey Gwynne of Worrall Hill.

Four-year-old Elsie has been attending the centre for some two years.

Her mum Sarah said: “With her additional needs there is nowhere else for her and they do a fantastic job.”

The evening raised a fantastic £14,500 for the charity which runs the only fully-inclusive pre-school provision in Gloucestershire.

The centre – which reently celebrated its 30th birthday – is now at a “crossroads” and a decision will have to made about whether to renovate the current building or to move into a new home, said fund-raiser Helen Cotton.

She said: “It was a fantastic evening – Harry was wonderful, really warm and friendly.

“We showed a presentation about what the centre does and he was visibly touched by it.

“He also spoke about his admiration for Andy Lewis’s sporting achievements.”

The building, in Bowen’s Hill Road is now showing signs of its age and needs a ceiling track hoist, doors and more space.

Harry spoke about his life in football and about his time in the I’m a Celebrity... jungle which won him a whole new army of fans.”

While on the show, he revealed a fondness for jam roly-poly – so it was almost inevitable that Saturday night’s three-course dinner would include the British classic.

Helen added: “Bell’s did us proud and we are grateful to everyone who came and supported the centre on this special evening.

“The support we’ve had from local businesses is brilliant.

Gold medal-winning triathlete and centre patron Andy Lewis spoke about its work and the importance of bringing together people with and without disabilities.

An auction of footballing memorabilia included shirts signed by legends Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney.

The item which raised the most money was a 1966 England shirt signed by the World Cup-winning team which fetched £4,000.