Invicta FM listeners raise £15,000 for charity

LISTENERS of Kent commercial radio station Invicta FM raised more than £15,000 for its children's charity during a 12-hour marathon on-air auction on Friday.

Among the lots snapped up for Help A Kent Child was a guitar signed by James Blunt, a signed Arsenal shirt which went under breakfast presenter James Heming's hammer for £1,200 and a signed book by Masterchef judge Gregg Wallace.

Herne comic Dave Lee took time out from playing Nurse Nellie in Snow White at Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre to help the backroom gang man the phone lines at the station's studios next to the Thanet Way at Whitstable.

Normal programming was suspended as DJs and celebrities, including hypnotist Paul McKenna, singer Lemar and Nick Hewitt from ITV's The Apprentice, joined forces from 6am to 6pm.

Keith Martin from Canterbury won a VIP trip to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Marlowe. The prize included being picked up by limousine and a meal at The Old Brewery Tavern.

Also up for grabs were tickets to see Who Wants To Be A Millionaire with after-show drinks with Chris Tarrant; return flights and lunch to Le Touquet and box for up to eight at Gillingham FC's Priestfield Stadium donated by Kent Reliance Building Society.

One listener also bid to sit in on the Hit 40 UK chart show at Invicta's London studios in Leicester Square.

James Heming said: "I would like to thank everyone who helped make the day such a success. That includes the people who gave money, the celebs who took part and my colleagues who worked throughout the day in the control room."