PARAMEDICS have donned wigs, stilettos and glitter for a star-studded night of entertainment.

Salford was awash with celebrities, including Madonna, Shania Twain, Ronan Keating and Robbie Williams, thanks to the skilful transformation of flamboyant paramedics who took to the stage in a 'Stars in their Eyes' extravaganza last night.

John Henry, who is a paramedic from Atherton, helped to organise the charity night to raise money for a 10-day expedition in aid of the Children's Hospital Appeal Trust.

The 33-year-old, who is based at Salford, will be travelling to Canada with three of his colleagues for a sponsored cycle ride through the Rockies on June 16. The father of two, who has been a paramedic for eight years, took to the stage in the guise of Irish heart-throb Ronan Keating for the finale of the show and sang: 'When You Say Nothing At All'.

His 39-year-old colleague, Stuart Pitts, who is based at the Highfield station in Bolton, will also be taking part in the cycling trip, but enjoyed a night off training to perform in the sell-out show at Salford Rugby Club as part of a crowd-pleasing 'Full Monty' sketch.

John said: "I don't think I look much like Ronan Keating, but my hair has been dyed blonde! My family just laugh about it all.

"I'm hoping everyone will have been very drunk by the time I came on for the finale.

"We've got to start training hard now for the cycling trip."

Money raised on the bike ride will go towards the Children's Hospital Appeal Trust based at the Manchester Royal Infirmary which helps babies and youngsters in the community, and supports paediatric care in children's hospitals and ambulance services.

John added: "The ambulance service is one of the projects chosen by the charity and we want to do everything we can to enable it to continue its excellent work in the community."

Each of the paramedics need to raise at least £2,500 to take part in the cycling expedition.