A NEW �1m north Suffolk bar and restaurant will open in style tonight as footballing legends unite to kick off a special charity fundraiser.

Former Norwich City and Ipswich Town favourites Bryan Gunn and Simon Milton will join forces to unveil the new bar, restaurant and function room called The 12 Lost Churches in Dunwich. And as part of what promises to be a glittering event, they will cast their footballing rivalries aside to host a special charity auction in aid of Leukaemia Research.

A Real Madrid shirt signed by David Beckham and a football signed by the Manchester United squad will be among the top lots at the auction, which coincides with the opening of Cliff House Holiday Park's new restaurant.

Money raised will go to the Bryan Gunn Appeal, a charity set up by Gunn and his wife Susan after their daughter Fran�esca died of the disease in 1992 at the age of two.

The former City keeper, who regularly played opposite Milton in the 477 times he turned out for Norwich, said: 'There is a good-natured rivalry between us that has carried on off the pitch, but the rivalry lessens when charity is involved.'

Gunn persuaded former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, for whom he played at Aberdeen, to donate a special Manchester United red football.

'I've also got a shirt signed by Gary Neville among some tremendous lots,' he said. 'The night is going to be a must for football fans of all persuasions, we're hoping for a great turn out.'

Milton, who made 200 appearances for Ipswich, has worked for Town's academy since it opened in 1998.

Owners of the Cliff House Holiday Park recently invested more than a �1m in a contemporary new bar and restaurant, called The 12 Lost Churches, which will be open all year round.

Director Steven Johnson said: 'We're delighted to welcome Simon and Bryan to the opening and hope that our guests will be generous for a great cause.'

The stunning restaurant, which has taken more than two years to build and has been in the planning stage for five years, includes an outside terrace and conference room.

'We don't like to do things by halves at Cliff House. We have created a top quality contemporary bar, restaurant and function suite that has been professionally interior designed and has a number of eco friendly features,' Mr Johnson added.

In the last 17 years that the Bryan Gunn Appeal, which has raised more than �1m, has been running, it has funded research into the causes and possible cures of childhood leukaemia, and oncology outreach nursing.