An Oxenhope hospice has received a donation of £1,500 from the sale of what is believed to be the UK’s most expensive Christmas turkey.

The oven-ready turkey was put under the hammer by Roger Penny and Dave Gill, who live in Thornton, to raise funds for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice at a pre-Christmas auction in Otley.

Wharfedale Farmers Auction Mart, who conducted the sale and took no commission, went on to sell the turkey a whopping 17 times as different members of the local farming community won the bird and donated it back in to be auctioned again.

Roger said: "I initially thought it might raise a few hundred pounds, but it was fantastic to hit the £1,500 mark for a great cause. It probably turned out to be the UK’s most expensive turkey this Christmas!"

Andrew Wood, Community Fundraising Manager at Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, said: “We are very grateful to Roger for choosing to auction the Christmas turkey in aid of our hospice, and would like to thank all the kind-hearted individuals who so generously played a part in reaching this tremendous total.

“The continued support of people in our community who donate and fundraise for us means we can continue to provide the expert and compassionate palliative care and bereavement support we are so well known for.”