A YOUNG girl yesterday told how a charity transformed her life, to help promote a radio auction.

Sammy Taylor, 11, of Trimdon Grange, near Sedgefield, was promoting a 96.6tfm radio auction for the Make A Child Smile Charity.

Items included two full wedding receptions, a meal cooked at home by a chef and the chance to be director of Hartlepool Football Club for a day.

The auction had nearly raised its target of £20,000 by last night, with thousands of pounds more expected.

Sheila Taylor, whose daughter, Sammy, has cerebral palsy, said the Make A Child Smile charity bought her daughter an electric wheelchair, which gave her much more independence.

She said: "When she had a normal, push wheelchair she could not go out with her friends or anything, but now she has so much more independence.

"She can do so much more on her own."

Sammy, who has a sister, Becky, nine, said she hoped the charity could help other children.

Lots at the charity auction, held throughout the day on 96.6tfm and Magic FM, included two wedding ceremonies and three-course receptions at The Wainstones Hotel, at Great Broughton. One went for £4,000 and the other was expected to raise more.

The chance to be director of Hartlepool Football Club for a day raised £200, and signed shirts by David Beckham and the Middlesbrough football team were expected to raise hundreds.

The charity helps underprivileged and ill children, and is headed by Middlesbrough football club chairman Steve Gibson.