A VETERAN broadcaster has made a surprise donation to a Southampton charity shop.

Dame Esther Rantzen donated hundreds of pounds worth of household items to the Southampton British Heart Foundation (BHF) after a spring clear-out of her New Forest home in Bramshaw.

The 70 items, which include ornaments, shoes and hats are now on sale in the Queensway Shop in Southampton.

Talking about her donation, Dame Esther said: “The British Heart Foundation does such fantastic work helping to fund vital research into heart disease which is exactly why I wanted to support my local shop in Southampton.

"I hope that my donations raise lots of money for the charity and help in the fight for every heartbeat.”

The 76-year old is well known for her presenting BBC1 show That’s Life for more than 21 years and co-founding child protection charity ChildLine in 1986, which provides support and counselling to young people up to age 19.

British Heart Foundation is now appealing to anyone who wishes to donate items from a spring clear-out to take advantage of their free home collection service allowing householders to dispose of any unwanted household items for free.

Paul Pritchard, charity area manager for Southampton said: “It’s great that Esther has chosen to support our shop and I’d like to say a massive thank you to her on behalf of everyone at the BHF.

“Esther’s donated items are proving a hit with the customers and we have already sold quite a few of them which is great.

"We hope that Esther’s charitable clear out encourages other people in the community to follow suit.”

The donation is estimated to make more than £1,000 for the charity which will go towards funding life-saving heart research.