THESE are the fundraising celebrities who have been transformed by the magic and mystery of a Venetian masked ball in preparation for one of the region's most glamorous fundraising events.

Transformed with the help of Southampton fancy dress store Just For Fun, former England cricketer and television personality David Gower was joined by Saints managers past and present Lawrie McMenemy and Harry Redknapp and BBC South's Sally Taylor to launch this year's Leukaemia Busters Grand Ball.

The Southampton-based charity, which funds research into developing a new and safer treatment for leukaemia, aims to recreate an authentic moonlit masquerade at Southampton Guildhall for its most extravagant fundraiser of the year on Saturday, June 11.

Guests - to include the charity's patrons David and Thorrun Gower and fundraising presidents Harry and Sandra Redknapp - will be transported to a Venetian lagoon.

They will enjoy a champagne reception at the City Art Gallery and will then be treated to a four-course Italian dinner.

Events fundraiser Belinda Morton said: "Our ball this year promises to be a magical and unforgettable evening.

"The reason that we have chosen the Venice theme is that the charity is working with scientists in Italy who are researching a cure.

"A masked ball is such a grand affair - we are having a lot of fun organising it.

"Last year our ball raised £10,000 but that was a smaller event and this year we aim to raise much more."

Tickets to the masquerade ball cost £100 per person. For more information, call 023 8063 6607.