A silent auction has raised over �1,300 towards kitting out North Walsham's new hospital, due to open early in the New Year.

One bidder placed a �20 pledge in a sealed envelope and will now have their car washed by North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb.

The most popular of the 40 lots on offer was a day at the races, donated by businessman Michael Baxter, which attracted a top bid of �250.

Auction organiser Vivienne Uprichard, mayor of North Walsham, said she was delighted with Friday's event, held in the Black Swan pub's room, in aid of her chosen charity for the year, the hospital's league of friends.

Mrs Uprichard said the community had responded 'brilliantly' to the event. 'Businesses, shopkeepers and the ordinary citizens of North Walsham have been ringing me up and giving me auction lots and tombola items,' she added.

'I've had someone who said their husband had received superb care at the hospital in the last weeks of his life and people who've said they were born there.

'We're very lucky to have a community hospital - a lot of other places haven't.'

Mrs Uprichard plans to organise other fund-raising events for the cause during her term of office.

* The re-sited war memorial from the old hospital, which is being demolished, is due to be re-dedicated next week, on Armistice Day, November 11. It will be located at the new 24-bed hospital being built.