A CHARITY auction at North Tawton?s Railway Inn was runaway success. The event, in aid of Honeylands Children?s Development Centre in Exeter, raised almost £9,500. Add to that the takings from the bar, refreshments, raffle, weight of the giant tyre, and knobbly knees competition, and the grand total came to just over £14,500. The pledge auction last Thursday, run by the Railway Inn?s Claire and Bert Bolt, was to raise funds to buy more essential physio and play equipment to benefit the local children who go to the centre ? the couple?s daughter Mya is one of the children attending. The response from everyone was overwhelming with almost 200 pledges to auction, dozens of raffle prizes, beer provided for the bar, a pig for the hog roast, the loan of marquees to shelter the crowd from the one brief shower, and donations coming in from far and wide. Crowds flocked in soon after 6pm to view the items which were on view in the dining room and Robert Pyle started the auction at 7.30pm. There was everything from babysitting and dog walking to sight-seeing flights, holidays and a chance to brew a special keg of ?Mya?s Ale? at a local brewery. Thanks were expressed to all who helped achieve the fantastic result. The weight of the tyre was 2.139 kg and was won by Colin Thornton who guessed 2.146 kg. The person who correctly identified the most ?Knobbly Knees?, has still to be decided and can be checked out at the Railway Inn. A dance, also in aid of Honeylands, is to be held at Clyst Hydon Village Hall on Friday October 28. There will be transport from North Tawton. Anyone interested is askes to ring Marion on 01837 82285.