Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand hosted his first gala dinner for his foundation on Saturday evening.

The 35-year-old welcomed 400 guests to the Wyndham Chelsea Harbour hotel in West London in aide of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation.

Celebrities including singer Olly Murs and actor James Nesbitt were in attendance for the event, run in conjunction with the Teenage Cancer Trust charity and Operation Wallacea, raising over £50,000, according to the Daily Mail.

An auction during the event included prizes ranging from a walk-on part in Nesbitt's BBC One drama The Missing to a seat in Ferdinand's executive box at Old Trafford.

"People look at me as an inspiration because I had the possibility to live the dream and I now use that to help other people," Ferdinand is quoted as saying.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright was also a guest.