ONE of the most glittering fundraising nights in Hampshire's calendar raised an estimated £27,000 for charity.

More than 250 guests crowded into Southampton Guildhall for a charity fundraising spectacular hosted by Leukaemia Busters.

Saturday night's Venetian masquerade ball was attended by some of Southampton's best known faces including current Saints manager Harry Redknapp and his FA cup winning counterpart Lawrie McMenemy.

Also present at the star-studded event, hosted by radio DJ Ed Stewpot Stewart, was former England cricket captain and charity patron David Gower and the mayor of Southampton, Councillor Edwina Cooke.

Top items which were auctioned at the Italian-themed evening included a day on a Grand Prix racing yacht courtesy of Boat Sails International at Hamble which sold for £1,200.

The day will include a trip on the Solent on the Farr 45 and lunch at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Cowes.

Two football shirts signed by members of England's 1966 World Cup winning squad also sold for £1,200 each.

Other top items that went under the hammer were a signed gold disc by Australian singer Kylie Minogue, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and a signed disc by Frank Sinatra.

Leukaemia Busters' Belinda Morton said: "Basically, we are very pleased with the way the whole evening went."