A PART in a television show starring Martin Clunes is up for grabs in a fundraiser at Poundbury in Dorchester.

The actor, who lives near Bridport, has offered the walk-on role as one of the prizes for an auction and cabaret night at the Brownsword Hall on December 13.

A tour of the GMTV studios is also going under the hammer to raise money to take five youngsters on holiday from a children's home in Dorchester.

Organiser Julie Croley, who lives in Middlemarsh Street with husband Michael, said: "Children are very important and they need to be given the best start.

"I want to raise enough funds to cover the cost of a holiday abroad next summer for young people from a children's home."

Rachel Brown, who works with friend Mrs Croley in the customer care centre at Loders garage in Dorchester, is a former entertainment manager at Haven holiday camps and will sing at the event on December 13.

Now Mrs Croley is appealing for people attend and donate more prizes.

She said: "Hopefully we will receive some more generous donations to guarantee raising the amount we need to pay for the holiday."

Mrs Croley said she also had offers of prizes from Dorchester businesses and shops, campsites and photographers as well as the offer of use of a car for a weekend from Loders.

She said Mr Clunes offered a part in his next television series and hopes that it will be the popular William and Mary show.

Annie Wheatley, spokesman for Dorset Social Services, said: "We are very pleased that she is planning to raise money to enable some of the children we look after to go on holiday next year.

"She does seem to have found some exciting items, including the part in the Martin Clunes television series."

Mr Clunes has starred in films and television programmes but is best known for his role in the Men Behaving Badly comedy.

Call Mrs Croley on 07866 955107 to donate prizes.