IT’S been at the heart of the Jane Austen 200 celebrations – and now the grand finale of the Sitting With Jane event is just weeks away when the bookbenches are auctioned to raise money for a vital cancer treatment centre.

A Wild in Art event, being delivered by Destination Basingstoke and in association with Festival Place, Sitting With Jane is a public art trail featuring the 24 specially designed sponsored benches that have been on display in and around north Hampshire – including Alton and Chawton – since June 17.

The public art trail will be free to see and enjoy until the end of August before a Farewell Event, featuring the benches, takes place at Milestones Museum on September 9/10.

The benches will then be available to buy at an auction, which will be overseen by fine art auctioneers and valuers Andrew Smith & Son, of Itchen Stoke, near Winchester. The auction will take place at The Ark Conference Centre on the evening of Friday, September 15.

Seventy-five per cent of the proceeds raised at the auction will go to the Sitting With Jane charity partner Ark Cancer Centre Charity – leaving a lasting legacy that will help and support cancer patients and their families as the charity is raising £5million towards a unique local NHS cancer treatment centre.

Merv Rees, Ark Cancer Centre charity trustee, said: “Sitting With Jane has attracted a great deal of attention – and everyone involved with Ark Cancer Centre Charity looks forward to the auction providing a grand and fitting final chapter to this wonderful event.

“The professionally-designed bookbenches that will be up for sale have become must-see attractions in recent weeks, and those involved in purchasing them will be contributing to a lasting legacy.

“It is hoped that each of the benches will raise several thousand pounds, which will make a significant difference to Ark’s fundraising campaign.”