ONE OF the largest property development companies in the Yorkshire Dales has raised an astounding £50,000 for charity - by giving away a luxury apartment in converted mill.

Skipton Properties auctioned one of its contemporary apartments at its charity ball, raising £29,000 from that alone, and a total of £51,000 from the evening for Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope, near Keighley.

The auction, part of the company's 21st anniversary celebrations, was the area's biggest ever charity auction with the lucky bidder winning a 510 sq ft, one bedroom apartment, at the £65 million Grove Mills development in Keighley.

Some 400 people attended the charity ball, held at the Craiglands Hotel, in Ilkley. Says Brian Verity, MD of Skipton Properties: "The ball was an amazing success and we have managed to raise an impressive £51,000 for Manorlands. We thank all those who dug deep into their pockets on the night and all the companies who supplied prizes."

Other auction lots included a diamond pendant which sold for £3,000, a Jason Leonard signed rugby ball by for £500 and a bid for £700 secured tea for two and a tour of the House of Commons with local MP Ann Cryer.

Two superb raffles - with prizes such as a 42" plasma TV and a BMW Z4 Roadster for the weekend - and a sealed bid auction for five signed footballs from top flight British clubs , all helped to raise over £5,000.