TWO soap stars were unable to take part in a charity football match after they were involved in a road accident on their way to Suffolk.

TWO soap stars were unable to take part in a charity football match after they were involved in a road accident on their way to Suffolk.

Former Emmerdale heartthrob Ayden Callaghan and ex-Hollyoaks actor Jake Hendriks, both 27, were travelling to the fundraising event in Needham Market on Sunday morning when their car was hit from behind.

They were due to turn out for a Showbiz XI and take on a team led by ex-Ipswich Town midfielder Kevin Horlock at Needham Market FC's Bloomfields ground.

Jake, who played gay Catholic priest Father Kieron Hobbs in Hollyoaks between 2006 and 2008, and Ayden, who portrayed Miles De Souza in Emmerdale until last August, have both previously played for celebrity football teams.

Chris Ryan, who helps organise the Showbiz XI side for matches around the country, said the pair were left shaken by the crash but were uninjured and recovering at home.

He said: “I got a text from Ayden on Sunday morning saying he had been involved in an accident, had been hit from behind and had to go to hospital for a check-up.”

Needham Market, who play in the Ridgeons League Premier Division, hosted the event in order to raise cash for Cancer Research.

Club chairman David Bugg said the event had still proved a big success with between 300 and 400 people attending and he wished the two actors well.

It raised �550 for Cancer Research.