THE Horrabridge Cavaliers' bottle auction raised a record £1,250 for good causes in the village recently.

The poor weather did not deter residents who came to the London Inn in record numbers and bid competitively for the 300 lots on offer. The bottles ranged from champagne and spirits through a wide selection of wines and beer to soft drinks and even pickled onions.

Licensees Mike and Heidi boosted the auction takings by donating the refreshment proceeds to the Cavaliers' funds.

The two auctioneers, John Taynton and John Howells, took alternate lots and had to work extra hard to get through everything.

This was the seventh successive year that the Cavaliers have held their auction, and total proceeds are now approaching £6,000. Among the village's organisations that have received support from the Cavaliers since last year's auction are the youth club, table tennis club, Recreation Field Trust and the School. They also made contributions to the old age pensioners' Christmas party and the children's cricket day

Rob Hitchcock, vice-chairman of the Cavaliers, said: 'All of the money we collect goes to good causes, mostly in the village. We are very grateful to the residents for their generosity in donating bottles, and for coming in large numbers to make the event itself such a memorable occasion.'