Jason Manford surprises Stockport County stars joining late night victory celebration

Comedy star Jason Manford stunned Stockport County's champion players and staff by joining their late night celebration on Sunday night. The League Two champions held their Victory Parade through Stockport on Sunday afternoon.

Thousands of fans lined the streets to cheer on the team who made their way in an open top bus to Edgeley Park. A trophy presentation ceremony took place inside the ground, before the celebrations continued late into the evening for manager Dave Challinor and his team.

They booked out Stockport's Produce Hall for the party - where it was pizzas all round for staff and players. Then everyone was left stunned by the arrival of TV and musicals star Jason.

READ MORE: Live from Stockport County's victory parade - all the updates

Jason, who lives in Stockport, dashed over after TWO performances of The Wizard of Oz on Sunday at Manchester's Palace Theatre to join the celebrations. And he leapt up for an impromptu speech too.

While Jason is famously a Manchester City fan, he told players how "proud" he was that his hometown team had won the league at a speech at the event.

He congratulated the team on an amazing season and told them that his son was a Stockport County supporter.

One party-goer said: "It was a total surprise - and the players were so excited to meet Jason. It was the perfect end to the perfect day".

The party venue was The Produce Hall in Stockport town centre which recently had its own celebrations to mark five years on the historic Market Place.

It was chosen by County's party organisers Go PR who put together the event on Sunday night.

Jason is currently reprising his hit West End role as The Cowardly Lion on stage in Manchester in The Wizard of Oz for two weeks only. He told the