A charity auction which included a shirt signed by footballing legend Pelé helped to raise more than £14,000 for a Norfolk children's hospice.

Organisers of the Grand Charity Auction, which ran from June 7 until June 28, said they had 'pulled off a major coup' by getting the shirt alongside a range of other prestigious prizes.

A tie signed and donated by celebrity and Norfolk resident Stephen Fry was also up for grabs, alongside signed artwork personally donated by the internationally-renowned artist Fabian Perez.

A Six Nations rugby shirt signed by all six country captains was also for sale, along with signed 2013/14 Norwich City shirts and a seven-day holiday stay at a beach villa in Gambia.

Bids from around the world helped raise £14,471, which will go to East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) base at Quidenham.

Russell Baker, Lord Baker of Little Moulton, who lives in Bracon Ash, near Wymondham, organised the auction with marketing support from Jonty Young, who owns Norwich-based marketing company Creative Hub Norwich.

Lord Baker said: 'The online charity auction has proved to be an even bigger success this year and the quality of the donations was outstanding.

'But of course the bar has now been set quite high for next year's event, which I hope will be even more successful.

'Apart from the obvious financial boost which will help EACH continue its fantastic work, and help aid the impending costs associated with the new Norfolk-based hospice construction in the village of Framingham Earl, there is the increased awareness of EACH to the wider national and international communities.

'I think this year's auction has gone some way to ensuring a successful funding and awareness campaign.'

Laura Carver, EACH Norfolk fund-raiser, said: 'We're absolutely delighted with the events Lord Baker puts on for EACH and the funds raised are fantastic.

'His continued support and that of the wider community is appreciated by us all, as it enables us to continue caring for the children and families in the area who require our support.'

One lucky winner, Nichola Westlake from Brighton, said: 'I'm completely overjoyed with winning the Fabian Perez Signed Limited Edition art-piece named 'The Embrace II', which was part of Fabian's latest collection, and even more surprised to get Limited Edition No: 2.'

EACH is a charity that supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. The EACH care teams help children and families with the emotional and physical challenges they face, helping them to make the most of life wherever they wish – in families' own homes, in the community or at one of the hospices in Quidenham, Ipswich and Milton.

EACH relies on public support for the majority of the income needed to deliver care services, and 100pc reliance on voluntary income for the new hospice.

With the purchase of land, building costs and professional fees, the cost of the new hospice is likely to be in the region of £10 million.

EACH will continue to run its Quidenham hospice to its current high standards until a new hospice is built.

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