With a champagne reception and exquisite wine tasting leading into an evening of live music, Le Ballon Rouge at Sprowston Manor later this month promises to be a real French fancy.

The French-themed fete is being held by a group of part-time MBA students from the University of East Anglia on September 30 to raise money for Red Balloon, a charity which helps bullied children.

It will start at 7pm with a champagne reception before people visit wine-tasting tables where they will be given a presentation about the wine makers and the types of grapes used. In the evening there will be a disco, a live band and hog roast.

There will also be a raffle with prizes including tea for two at the Houses of Parliament, a weekend in France and two box tickets to see Norwich City play Bolton. One of the student on the course, Lesley Anastasiou, 45, who lives in Dussindale and works as a quality manager at the James Paget University Hospital at Gorleston, is helping to organise the event. She said: 'There is a real mix of people on our course. Some work for the NHS, a couple work in insurance and some have their own businesses.'

Part of their course requires them to give something back to the community and they agreed to hold a charity event.

Mrs Anastasiou said: 'We are seeking to raise the profile of Red Balloon.

'We chose that charity because one of the guys on the course does some work with them and a lot of people in our group chose it as our charity.

'Some of us have friends who have been bullied. The charity helps to build their confidence and gives them one to one teaching to help them get back into school or on to employment.'

To book tickets contact Lesley Anastasiou on 07881 943134 or email lesley.anastasiou@tiscali.co.uk