RADIO listeners have given Durham's hospice a financial boost by bidding in an on-air auction.

Durham Local Radio (DLR), which is coming to the end of a month-long temporary licence, held a four-hour auction last Saturday for St Cuthbert's Hospice.

Items, including signed Sunderland and Newcastle football shirts, a dolls' house and a London leisure pass, were sold off by presenters Hugh Evans and Brian Clough.

Broadcast from a mobile studio dubbed The Caravan of Love, the event raised £1,450 towards the hospice's running costs.

The auction was officially launched by North-East actor Tim Healy.

Mr Evans, DLR's programme manager, said: "We hoped to get about £1,000 but we exceeded that and raised £1,450 for what is a very good cause. It was an excellent result.''

Michelle Woods, the community fundraiser for St Cuthbert's Hospice, said: "We are delighted to get this money.

"We had collected lots of items and we were going to have a silent auction with people bidding in writing.

"Then Hugh came along and said he would like to do something for us and we thought it would be a much better opportunity for us having an on-air auction.''

The station, on 107 MHz FM, will depart from the airwaves tomorrow night but hopes to win the permanent commercial licence for the city.

* Handel's Messiah will be performed in Durham Cathedral, on Saturday next week, to raise money for the hospice. Tickets cost £8 or £25, including a pre-performance buffet and free parking, and are available from the hospice on 0191-386 1170, or from Durham Tourist Information Centre.