A MINT condition classic car has helped to boost the coffers of a South Lakeland charity to the tune of £ 8,000.

Arnside resident Tom Palmer has spent the last two years restoring his cherished Vanden Plas Princess - which has been in his family since new - to its former glory.

But after deciding he was no longer likely to get use out of the car, he generously donated it to the Milnthorpe-based Gift of Life charity to sell or auction off, with half the proceeds going to the charity.

Mike Waters, the charity's chief executive, said they took the 30-year-old vehicle to a classic car sale, and asked for sealed bids, with the car going to the person who offered the most.

Unfortunately the person who made the highest bid later backed out, although he offered to pay the difference between the person with the second highest, meaning that the car went for £1,600 with Mr Palmer splitting the money with the charity.

By chance, the classic car's new owner Alan Makinson, who owns a holiday cottage in Kirkby Lonsdale, is a keen supporter of the charity's main aim of raising awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation.

Mr Makinson suffers from a cancer known as multiple myeloma, which is treated by stem cell transplant, and is well aware of the urgent need for more donors.

He said: "Though I am one of the lucky ones as my brother is a match, many other myeloma sufferers are not so lucky and have to depend on a donor being found."

Mr Waters said the cash boost was "superb" and had already been put to good use by securing a sponsorship deal with ES Hartley of Ings, which had offered to supply the charity with a jeep to tow its educational trailer to shows, events, schools and colleges.

l The next major money-spinner for the Gift of Life is the Great North Run on October 6, when 100 runners will take part on behalf of the charity, including Westmorland Gazette reporter Victoria Clark and 12 of her friends.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Victoria can call her on 01539-710187.

l For more information about the charity log onto www.gift-of-life.org.uk