BBC Sussex raises money with unwanted gifts

BBC Sussex held its third “Give A Gift” sale on Saturday and raised £1,800 for BBC Children In Need.

The event, now in its third year, sees listeners to BBC Sussex and sister station BBC Surrey donating their unwanted Christmas gifts, which were then sold in a special sale at St Pauls Arts Centre in Worthing.

Items were sold on tables staffed by members of the BBC Sussex team and volunteers from local branches of the Women’s Institute. The gifts ranged from chocolates and perfumes to books and board games. There were also some special auction items donated by local organisations.

Pudsey Bear was in attendance on the day as were local MP Tim Loughton and Worthing Town Crier Bob Smytherman. Presenters Danny Pike and Mark Carter also hosted their regular Saturday shows from the venue.

Commenting on the sale, Mark Carter, Assistant Managing Editor and Presenter said: “£1,800 in the space of two hours on a cold January morning is an amazing result for BBC Children In Need and is up over £500 on the previous year. Huge thanks goes to all of our amazing listeners who donated gifts and to those who came along on Saturday to bag a bargain.”