FORMER England captain Andrew Strauss went down a storm as Aston Rowant staged a virtual extravaganza.

With the coronavirus lockdown preventing the club from holding their scheduled beer festival, they switched focus.

Instead, more than 220 tickets were sold to the online-only event, where a question and answer session with Strauss was the headline act.

Proceeds from the festival, which also included live music and masterclass tasting sessions, were split between helping the club through a tough time and the Ruth Strauss Foundation.

Organisers were delighted with the response.

More than £6,750 has been raised so far and the total is expected to climb once bids in a silent auction close this weekend.

Joshua Smith, Rowant’s 1st XI captain, said: “All in all, the Virtual Fest was a huge success.

“With very few technical errors, thankfully, we received nothing but positive feedback on the ‘fun, interactive and informative’ masterclass tasting sessions, as well as the festival itself.

“The Q&A with Andrew Strauss was the highlight of the evening for many with his candid and amusing style proving great entertainment.

“We are still waiting on the final amount raised, but we are proud to have made a substantial contribution to the Ruth Strauss Foundation in this difficult time.”

The Just Giving page is still open for anyone wishing to donate.