Singer Will Young headlined the event

Pop Idol winner Will Young headlined the Music and Laughter for Milly event, which raised money for a charity set up in her memory.

The 13-year-old disappeared in March last year on her way back from school to her home in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey.

The show at the London Palladium, hosted by comedian Brian Conley, featured performances by Pop Idol finalists Jessica Garlick and Hayley Evetts and impressionist Alistair McGowan.

'Confident and happy'

A spokeswoman for the theatre said just under 2,000 tickets had been sold for Sunday night event.

The money raised will go to Milly's Fund, a charity set up by her parents, Bob and Sally Dowler, to increase awareness of personal safety in teenagers.

Mrs Dowler said she hoped the show would help make teenagers more aware of safety issues.

Milly Dowler disappeared on her way home from school in March 2002

She told ITV News: "We really wanted to try and raise awareness and make teenagers aware of some of the problems they might face, but also want them to feel confident and happy about enjoying their lives at this time and don't want to frighten them."

Television presenter Chris Tarrant, the patron of Milly's Fund, said the charity had attracted a wide range of supporters.

He said: "What's happened with Milly's Fund is that every single person - it doesn't matter whether they are politicians, pop stars or disc jockeys - who has been approached, has actually said 'yes, whatever you need'."

Surrey Police confirmed last month they were investigating the movements of Tony King, accused of killing two teenagers in Spain, in connection with Milly's murder.

Her remains were discovered in Yateley Heath Woods in Hampshire on 20 September last year, but her killer has never been found.