Sobell House Hospice Charity’s first online auction has been hailed a great success, after its weird and wonderful lots netted more than £1,100.

The charity offered up a whole host of unusual ‘money-can’t buy’ items last week on eBay, and by Monday, when the auction ended, most of them had been snapped up.

Fundraiser Kevin Game said: “We are thrilled by what we raised – £1,100.36 in total, all of which will be ploughed straight into our work across the county helping and supporting the terminally ill.”

The most sought-after lot in the auction turned out to be Butterscotch, the giant toy pony.

Mr Game said: “Bidding was fierce for Butterscotch and she eventually sold to someone in Shrewsbury for £200 – I assume one little girl is going to have a very special Christmas.

“Everyone here in the charity office will be sad to see Butterscotch go – as we have become quite attached to her!”

Also popular in the auction was a decanter of whiskey commemorating the marriage of Charles and Diana, which sold for £60, and two patchwork quilts, one of which was made by the Oxford Quilt Group, which sold for £100.”

Sporting memorabilia signed by former England rugby manager Martin Johnson also provoked some fierce bidding.

Mr Game said: “We had some really great items to sell – things which we had been saving, but which until now have been just gathering dust.

“I was amazed by how quickly some of the items climbed in price – I was out-bid on everything.”

While most things sold, a photograph of Albert Einstein at the Oxford Union, and a rugby ball signed by the New Zealand and Australia teams weren’t purchased.

“But we can sell them as separate sales,” said Mr Game.

Every year Sobell House offers care and support to people and their families affected by terminal illness.

The hospice, on the Churchill Hospital site, costs in the region of £4m a year to run, much of which is raised through its charity work.

Mr Game added: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated and also Swift Couriers from Wantage, who are delivering a lot of the goods for us for free.

“There are lots of people out there who will be getting some fantastic presents this Christmas, and in doing so benefiting a great cause.”

Sobell House Hospice Charity’s next fundraising event is its eagerly awaited Christmas gift fayre at Radley College on November 26 and 27. For more details go to sobellhospicecharity.org.uk