Arsenal fans from around the world presented more than £23,000 to a charity - and almost £10,000 of it was raised in Maidstone.

The Maidstone Arsenal Supporters Club was by far the biggest fund-raiser for the Gunners' charity of the season, Teenage Cancer Trust.

The cheque was presented to the charity at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Sunday, in the build up to Arsenal's Premiership tie with Chelsea.

Tom Smethers, from Maidstone, was pitchside (pictured fifth from right in blue jumper) on the day to help hand over the massive sum of money to the charity dedicated to improving the lives of teenagers with cancer.

Fund-raising activities by the Maidstone branch included a sponsored walk from Emirates Stadium to West Ham United’s Upton Park in October when Arsenal took on the Irons in East London.

The cheque was presented to Deputy Director of Fundraising, Siobhan Dunn of Teenage Cancer Trust and Francesca Marenghi, Arsenal’s Corporate Account Manager from the charity minutes before the Premier League fixture kicked-off.

Mr Smethers said: “Each year Arsenal selects a new charity of the season, so it’s important for us to keep coming up with new ideas and support the club in other ways than just on the pitch.

"We’re delighted by the amount of money raised this year, not just by our own supporters club, but everyone’s – I think Arsenal will manage to top the £300,000 target which is testament to everyone’s enthusiasm and support for this fantastic cause.”

The top five fund-raising supporters clubs will each received two places to Arsenal’s annual end of season charity ball attended by the Arsenal first team, which this year is the Legends and Youth Ball hosted by Matt Lucas with entertainment from soul sensation VV Brown and rock legends The Who.

The money raised will help the charity fund an Education Zone inside Teenage Cancer Trust’s unit in a brand new Day Care Centre due to open in London in 2012.