Fans turned up hours before the arrival of former Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright in Hornchurch last weekend.

The Take Me Out: The Gossip presenter appeared at OJ’s and Oliver’s bars, in High Street, on Sunday.

The former semi-professional footballer was joined by his dad Mark Wright snr, along with co-star of his latest reality TV show Mark Wright’s Hollywood Nights, Tommy Smith.

But other Only Way is Essex stars had to cancel their appearance after the day’s filming for the latest series of the show overran.

Mark said on Twitter on Monday: “Had a good night last night with my dad @BigMarkWright_ and @Tommy19smith (at) @olivers_bar Hornchurch.”

Bar manager Ryan Clark told the Recorder: “The night was really good, there were loads of people there.

“Mark’s a friend of the club, he visited last year as well. Lots of people were there to see Mark and have their pictures taken with him.

“There were a couple of people waiting to see him from four o’clock in the afternoon. He was definitely the main attraction of the night.”

The event also helped raise money for a charity Precious Premies which donates to specialist care units for premature babies at Homerton, Whipps Cross and Queen’s Hospitals.

The bars will again be raising money for the charity on September 9 with an all day family event.