A BLIND auction for a vintage bottle of Champagne is expected to fill one lucky winner with joy this weekend.

The 1973 Louis Roederer bottle, which is estimated to be worth up to £500, was donated by Michael Devereux to help raise funds for Butterwick Hospice.

The charity's supporters are holding a car boot sale in Preston Park, Stockton, on Saturday (July 4).

And the owner of Devereux transport company decided to donate the bottle after he was given it as part of a house clearance the firm was carrying out.

He said: "Apparently the bottle is in really good condition so we thought we would hold a blind auction for it at this weekends car boot sale for the charity.

"People will pay £1 to put in their bid and the highest bidder will be able to take the bottle away."

The hospice wants to raise £3,000 towards the general running costs of the charity.

First-time stallholders will not be charged to sell their goods, as long as they donate the proceeds to the hospice.

Other sellers will be charged a £10 admission fee, which will go to the hospice, and get to keep their profits.

Paul Frost, former presenter of Tyne Tees TV and member of the hospice corporate steering group, has offered to set up a stall and will sell his pantomime on-ice skates.

Anyone who would like to donate clothing or small household items can take them to a collection point in the car park at the Northfield site of Preston Park on the morning of the sale. Gates open to sellers at 9am with buyers welcome from 10am until 1pm.