collars and coats ball 2010 for battersea dogs and cats home:
a royal visit, the supergroup of supergroups and 150 very special guards of honour
battersea power station's boiler house event venue was honoured to be chosen to host the star-studded fundraiser ball to celebrate our next-door neighbour's 150th anniversary as a beacon of hope for some 12,000 dogs and cats it rescues every year, and in many cases successfully rehomes.

just before the event got underway, battersea park road's busy traffic witnessed the astonishing sight of 150 of the home's canine residents, all wearing smart winter coats, making their way with their handlers along to the power station to form a remarkable guard of honour for the arriving guests.

as the evening got underway the boiler house was to see one of the most dazzling arrays of celebrity visitors yet since its launch in march 2010. view the battersea dogs and cats home gala gallery here to see the very famous faces who came to support the much-loved home.

hrh prince michael of kent graced the event, president of battersea dogs and cats home and himself a battersea rescue dog owner. watch the bbc's interview with him inside the boiler house here.

a charity auction of dreams raised some spectacular sums for the home, with a luxury holiday to thailand sold for £10,000 and an exclusive 2011 rugby world cup package to new zealand going under the hammer for £11,000. read more hereabout the event.

x-factor winner alexandra burke took to the boiler house stage to perform an exclusive set, as did cast members of phantom of the opera. it was obviously going to take something very special to close the night - and special it turned out to be.

the boiler house stage will go down in history as the venue for a one-time only performance by the supergroup of supergroups - queen's brian may and roger taylor teamed up with the who's roger daltrey and meat loaf's patti russo to rock the boiler house in unforgettable style, a live fusion of world-famous rock legends unlikely to ever be witnessed again. watch the bbc's interview with brian may inside the boiler house here

despite the kind of celebrity head count guaranteed to induce paparazzi frenzy, even the most feted guests would no doubt be the first to say that it was the canine stars who really stole the limelight - mimi the american bulldog who has been at battersea since august, lucky the nine-month-old hound, nancy the chihuahua, and many more. despite the old showbiz motto about working with children and animals, they all behaved impeccably on the night.