A STREAKER who bared all when he invaded the pitch during a World Cup cricket match is raising money for children at a North-East sports club.

Ben Sandall ran on as England took on his native New Zealand at the Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street last week.

The 33-year-old said it was a ‘spur of the moment thing’ but now he is hoping to raise money – as well as smiles and eyebrows – for the kids at his local rugby club.

Originally from Wairarapa, on the North Island, of New Zealand, Mr Sandall plays loose head prop for Morpeth Rugby Club.

He said: “Hundreds of people from back home who know me through friends have seen me and have been sending me messages saying ‘you’re a legend’.

“People have seen it for what it was which was a bit of a laugh.

“I thought if people got a chuckle out of it, they might want to throw a couple of quid in for the kids at the club so I set up a Go Fund Me page.

"It is is to help pay for the sporting legends of the future, however they choose to define that."

Mr Sandall, who runs a renewable energy company, said he decided to act because his team were losing to England and he thought they needed a morale boost.

He said: “I thought they were looking a bit down do I thought I would go out there and give them a bit of a pep talk.

“It did not really have the desired effect though, although there was a good reaction when I jumped barrier and got on to the pitch.

“I did quite well and don’t usually manage to avoid that many tackles when I am on the rugby pitch."

Mr Sandall was arrested and spent a few hours in a cell at Durham City Police Station before he accepted an official caution from officers for aggravated trespass.

It is not the first time he had streaked.

Around ten years ago he ran onto the pitch naked at a Super Rugby match in New Zealand.

He also admits to do his ‘party piece’ at friends’ weddings and even at the Arc de Triomphe in the centre of Paris.

He said: “I do have a bit of history, from back in the day."

So far the appeal has raised over £500. To donate click here