SISTERS weren't doing it for themselves when they organised a charity auction to raise money for Julia's House and raised £1,245.

Former Devizes School sixth form ambassador Iona Johnstone did most of the preparation work last year and then her sister Caitlin took over and emailed more than 200 businesses across the country to ask for donations.

Deputy head of sixth form Martin Maxwell said: "Our sixth form ambassadors came up with the idea to raise money for Julia's House by holding a charity auction. We were delighted with all the donations we received -- from a Dyson desk fan and family tickets to Hayne's International Motor Museum, to vouchers for paint balling at Hamburger Hill and chocolates from Morrison's. People dug deep on the night for Julia's House, raising £1245.

"It was an incredible display of generosity from the Devizes community, and we know it will make a huge difference to those children and families that Julia's House provides much needed support to."

The auction was held at the school earlier this month and was the culmination of two years work. In January sixth formers will visit the new children's hospice in Devizes to present a cheque.

School publicity officer Karen Sims said: "Julia's House has been the 6th form adopted charity now for two years. Last year, before the Devizes centre was open, our 6th Form were invited to site to keep up to date with the progress of the building work. It is great that even though the building is now finished that they still want to raise money for the charity."