HOLLYWOOD actress Greta Scacchi has donated a stunning Escada couture gown to be auctioned by local children's charity CHICKS.

Ms Scacchi, who has been a patron of the charity for three years, has given the gown — which she wore to the Year 2000 Golden Globe Awards in America — to help raise money at the Devon and Cornwall Institute of Directors' summer ball in Torquay on June 28.

The actress starred in Presumed Innocent with Harrison Ford and Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow. She said she was 'thrilled to be able to help in some small way'.

The dress is a pure silk off-white creation with a bead-encrusted bodice and sleeves with hand-sewn sequins, seed pearls, extensive beading and silver metal filagree embroidery. It is size 10/12 and is said by the star to be worth in excess of £1,000.

Tracy Izod of CHICKS said: 'An auction lot like this does not come along every day and the dress has had the girls at the charity cooing over it since its arrival last week!

'It even has the original delivery sticker still on it from when she was staying at the BelAir Hotel.

'It would make a really beautiful and original wedding dress as it has a small train at the back, and with the history attached it is a really special dress. We are very excited at the prospect of selling it and it should raise a lot of money on the night.'