Director of building firm David Wilson Homes, Gareth Neale normally does his work in a suit and tie.

But this week he swapped the office attire for a hard hat and hi-vis vest and went back to the building site for an excellent cause.

The firm which is building houses at the Larks Rise development in Tadpole Garden Village recently auctioned off a day of its construction director's labour to help local charity Jessie May.

Staff from fellow local firm Paul Sellick Brickwork shelled out an impressive £1,500 to see him pick up a trowel and, true to his word, Gareth rolled up his sleeves and helped lay bricks this week.

Gareth, who started his career in construction as a bricklayer, said: “It’s been a long time since I’ve mixed up cement and laid bricks but it was brilliant fun. The team from Paul Sellick Brickwork definitely looked like they were enjoying seeing me struggle in the heat but the humiliation was worth it knowing we were raising money for a worthy cause”

The auctioning of Gareth’s bricklaying skills formed part of a huge fundraiser by David Wilson Homes which raised a whopping £58,000 for south west charity, Jessie May.

Lindsey Horton from the Jessie May said: “We are so grateful for the colossal amount raised – it will make a huge difference to users of the charity. A big thumbs up to Gareth for sticking true to his promise and spending a day on the bricks in our honour. He did such a good job we might just invite him to come and do some building projects for us!”

Jessie May is a local charity that provides respite care at home for terminally ill children in Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset.

It currently provides 140 families with respite care and 50 families with bereavement support.

To find out more about the charity or support the work it does visit jessiemay.org.uk.