STARS of screen and stage will unite in Southampton to raise money for a cause close to the heart of one of the city's most popular residents.

The star-studded event has been organised by staff at Kuti's restaurant in Oxford Street, Southampton, in a bid to raise money for those stricken by flooding in their home country of Bangladesh.

Among those who have pledged their support to Sunday night's Kuti's Mission Variety Night are comedians Jethro and Bobby Davro, and Coronation Street favourite Bradley Walsh.

Other celebrities due to tread the Mayflower boards will be comedian Richard Digance, model Linda Lusardi, actor Sam Kane and Sky Sports presenter Chris Kamara.

Young musical talent will be represented by groups including the E Minor Southampton Choir and Salisbury's En Masse group.

Restaurant owner Kuti Miah, who left the Bangladeshi village of Bag Moyna, where he was born, in 1975, hopes his fundraising mission will fund a new home and a medical centre for people in the village.

The village was last hit by major flooding in July last year, when Kuti visited his childhood home.

The 45-year-old restaurateur said: "The place is still very close to my heart. Many people there had homes that were washed away and they have nowhere to live.

"Southampton is my home now but I do hope that we can do some good work for the village."

Southampton-born comedian Mike Osman, who has helped to organise the variety night, said the evening will suit all tastes.

He said: "There will be entertainers from both the old and new schools of comedy. We are trying to give people what has been missing from TV and that's variety.

"I'm very excited about it. It's nice that despite being thousands of miles away we can do something to help the people of Kuti's village."

Kuti's Mission Variety Night will take place on Sunday at the Mayflower theatre at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £21. Call 023 8071 1811.