FRUGAL fashionistas can grab themselves a designer handbag for a fraction of their usual price at an upcoming charity auction.

Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Dolce and Gabbana, Prada and Gucci are just some of the labels going under the hammer at the auction at the Hall Garth Hotel and Country Club, in Coatham Mundeville, near Darlington on Friday (February 28).

More than 500 handbags are up for grabs at the event, which hopes to raise thousands of pounds for St Teresa’s Hospice, in Darlington.

The handbags, both new and pre-loved, were donated by supporters of the hospice, and each lot will start at £1.

Event co-organiser Carrie Wilson said: “We have had a huge response, it has been quite overwhelming.

“I have done handbag auctions before, but never had a response as big as this.

“There are hundreds of fabulous handbags, some still with their tags on.”

The event was organised by Mrs Wilson, a sales manager at the hotel, and her friend, Liz Cook, as part of a year-long fundraising campaign.

Their fundraising efforts will also see them trekking across Iceland in July to raise more than £4,000 for the hospice.

Mrs Wilson said: “The hospice is the hotel’s chosen charity and they have been a pleasure to work with. They are a local charity and provide a lot of support to the community.

“This will be the third trek that we have undertaken for charity and we are always thinking of new and unusual ways to raise funds.

“We just wanted to do something a bit different which will be a bit of fun.

“Everyone has got a handbag they don’t want, and this was a way to get rid of them and raise money at the same time.”

Doors open at 6.30pm for viewing and the auction starts at 7.30pm.

The event is free, but visitors are asked to register their attendance at mahoosivehandbagsauction.eventbrite.co.uk

To donate to the pair’s charity fundraising visit doitforcharity.com/carrieandliz