RESIDENTS of Colerne have helped to raise more than £3,500 for the Martins Croft Play Area Project in the village.

The money will help to install a wheelchair trampoline, a music ball, a new slick pour surface and a sensory area.

Former England rugby coach Brian Ashton and his wife Helen helped to organise a fundraising charity auction on Saturday (October 6) in Colerne Village Hall.

The auctioneers for the evening were Mr Ashton and Chris Lilley, who lives in the village, and is the Bath Rugby Club’s elite player development group coach.

Mrs Ashton said: “We had the most amazing night and we raised just over £3,500. The room was dressed by all the volunteers and looked amazing. We had around 75 people attend and the whole evening was lots of fun.

“I would love to thank everyone that helped on the day, before the day and for all the generous bids.”

One of the guests was Amy Williams, the former British skeleton racer and Olympic gold medallist, who helped with the auction.

In all, the organisers sold 26 lots, including a top prize of an overnight stay for a family of four at The Borough Hotel in Lancaster, where the Ashtons have a family home, and tickets to a local Christmas ice rink.

Mrs Ashton’s daughter, Gabrielle, who lives in Royal Wootton Bassett, has two-year-old twin boys, one of whom, Torben, has cerebral palsy. She said: “Our grandson Torben has cerebral palsy and when he comes to stay he loves going to the play area.

“It has music chimes and lots of colourful things to play with and touch. His eyesight is not good so the brighter the things are, the better it is for him.”

On November 7, the project committee has organised a cheese and wine evening at the Six Bells public house.

The money will help to install new swings for children of all abilities. They need another £12,000 to complete this project.