Piccolino in Alderley Edge was the setting for a glamorous lunch to raise awareness of the James Milner Foundation.

The first ladies’ lunch organised by the James Milner Foundation was the perfect combination of lashings of fizz, shopping and music.

Around 150 glamorous guests were greeted by glasses of bubbly at the glitzy Piccolino in Alderley Edge for the event held to raise awareness of the Foundation, as well as to raise funds for three charities - Bloodwise, the NSPCC and Help for Heroes.

James Milner, former Manchester City star and now at Liverpool FC, set up the charity to help promote healthy recreation for young people by improving their chances of taking part in sports like football, rugby and cricket. But it was James’s wife Amy Fletcher who organised this lunch and she revealed that it was the first fundraiser they had ever done for women.

Amy told Cheshire Life: ‘The guys get all the away days and golf days, so I thought I’d do something for the ladies.

‘Basically, it’s what every woman wants: food, drinks, shopping and a bit of entertainment - oh and then they’re back down to earth pretty soon picking up their kids from school afterwards.’

An array of ‘shopportunities’ awaited guests as local boutiques and beauty businesses showcased their wares. Among them was Society boutique, Zaazee fitness wear, Argan Liquid Gold, Daisy Mae and Jennifer Gibson vintage jewellery.

After working up an appetite with plenty of socialising and a little shopping it was time to tuck in to starters of pizza, followed by a main course of steak and chips or seabass and potatoes, while host Key 103 DJ Darren Proctor introduced the charity and entertainment.

The event also provided a taste of things to come, as the James Milner Foundation hosts a star-studded fundraising ball every winter. Over the past five years it has raised more than half a million pounds for the charity.

For further information about the James Milner Foundation please visit www.thejamesmilnerfoundation.com