AN alpaca sporting a scrum cap proved to be the star attraction at a charity awareness event hosted by the Saracens rugby team in St Albans this afternoon.

The squad invited an obscure array of guests, including an alpaca and a ram, to a tea party helping to promote a range of worthy local causes at the Old Albanians training ground in Harpenden Road.

The event brought together representatives of St Albans-based charity Abbeyfield, the Dogs Trust, NSPCC, Aspire, The Multiple Sclerosis Trust and the Animal Care Trust, to celebrate the launch of Remember a Charity Week - a national campaign promoting the importance of legacy giving.

Jill Burder from Abbeyfield, a charity supporting older people across the district, said: "This week gives charities a platform to raise awareness of the importance of charitable legacy giving and to encourage more people to consider leaving a gift to charity in their will. A charity that you have supported in life and you really believe in, once you have gone there might not be another person to step into your shoes - legacy is a long term commitment."

Charlotte Peters from the Dogs Trust arrived with ten-year-old rescue dog, Nigel, while Paula Goad and Dawn Sewell from the Animal Care Trust turned up to mark the occasion with Izzy, a four-year-old rescue dog, Quiksilver the Alpaca and Harry the ram.

Charlotte said one third of the charity's income is brought in through legacy donations, while NSPCC representative, Joanna Hulin, said the charity relies on gifts to make up one fifth of its annual revenue.

Helping to raise the profile of charitable legacy giving today was former England rugby captain Steve Borthwick, now lock for the Sarries, and the squad's hookers Ethienne Reynecke and Schalk Brits.

Steve told the Review: "There's many good causes represented here today. We as Saracens rugby players are really happy we can help to try and promote these charities."