CHILDREN at St Mary's RC Primary are to benefit from an auction which raised almost £7,000.

"It was a brilliant night," said organiser Claire Hall.

There had been fears of a poor turnout after few people bought tickets in advance. But more than 100 people eventually turned out and pushed the total to £6,900 £500 more than last year.

"It was so kind of all the people who donated lots or turned up on the night," said Claire. "A big thank you goes out to them.

"The auctioneer, Blair Innes, excelled himself and everybody had a good time."

The proceeds are to be used for building improvements at the school in Bessemer Road East.

Among the lots on offer were a day in a Lotus sports car, which raised £110, the chance to be a Swindon Town FC mascot, which brought in £200, a signed England football (£200) and England rugby ball (£225), a signed Kylie CD (£60) and a 1969 league programme for the famous Arsenal v Swindon match.