Music mogul Simon Cowell has boosted the Israeli Army with a sizeable donation at a gala dinner in Los Angeles.

The X Factor chief gave a sum thought to be in the region of £150,000 at the annual fundraising event hosted by the American Friends of the IDF.

The event was hosted by Power Rangers creator Haim Saban, who pledged to donate $1 million if Mr Cowell joined him to sing the show's theme song, "Go, Go Power Rangers".

Mr Cowell did break into song, but quickly said he would make a donation himself if Mr Saban allowed him to stop.

The event is understood to have raised around $20m in total for the IDF.

Lionel Richie also performed for the 1,200 guests. The audience included serving Israeli soldiers.

Mr Saban said Los Angeles' Jewish and Israeli communities "appreciate and embrace the soldiers of the IDF, and will continue to do everything in order to give thanks to them and strengthen them in whatever is needed".

Mr Cowell has previously spoken of his Jewish roots and work with communal charities in Britain. Last year he told a Norwood dinner: “My dad is Jewish. He never told me or my brother or his wife. It’s in my blood and drew me to the charity.”