An auction of promises is to be organised by the charity committee of a South East Cornwall company to help cover the costs, and more, of the theft of a Children's Hospice South West collection box.
The box, which had been ready for collection, was taken from Gunnislake post office recently - to the horror of Margaret Turnbull who runs the shop with her husband.
Spinnaker International's charity committee is to hold the auction on October 8 at 7.30pm, at Saltash community school. Admission will be free and Lewis Bond of Kittows of Callington will be the auctioneer.
Those attending will be able to bid for items including memberships of China Fleet country club and Saltash leisure centre; tea on the terrace of the House of Commons - this offered by local MP Colin Breed; car washes and an autographed photo of Bob Hope donated by Livewire youth centre; tickets to the National Marine Aquarium and much more.
Event organiser, Yvonne Philpott, said: 'I hope everyone in Saltash who wants to buy a treat for someone special, or who has started their Christmas planning early, will come along and join the fun at the auction.'
Spinnaker staff have set themselves the target of raising £3,000 for the Hospice by October 2000, through a range of events. So far more than £1,300 has been raised.