A WHOPPING £3,837 has been raised for The Gurkha Welfare Trust at the Tony Hart Retrospective exhibition.

The display, at the Hazlitt Art Centre's Graham Clarke Gallery, celebrated the work of the television favourite and attracted more than 1,000 visitors last month.

The money was raised with a secret auction in which the chance to own a piece of the late artist's work was open to sealed bids.

The work was donated by Mr Hart's daughter Carolyn.

Cabinet member for leisure and culture, Cllr Brian Moss, said: "This is a staggering sum of money which will go to a very worthy cause. Maidstone has been waiting a long time for a Tony Hart exhibition and thanks to Carolyn it has been made possible."

The Gurkha Welfare Trust was the charity chosen in memory of Tony Hart, a member of the Gurkha Rifles who actively fundraising for soldiers in Nepal throughout his lifetime.