AN ‘HAMAZING’ £16,000 was raised when the Haslemere Hogs charity project brought home the bacon at a packed grand finale auction.

Fernhurst auctioneer John Nicholson wielded the gavel over a bidding frenzy at Undershaw’s Stepping Stones School, which saw one of the remaining 15 decorated fibreglass pigs from a limited edition of 60, ‘HOGS for Heroes’, snapped up for £2,000.

Ex-town mayor Brian Howard, aka ‘Hogmaster’, came up with the novel arts project to generate funds for the four charities nominated by last year’s mayor Sahran Abeysundara, and it has proved to be a runaway success.

Businesses, schools and individuals seized the opportunity to sponsor and customise their very own hogs, when Mr Howard launched the project last November, at a gala event to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his High Street family business, Marley Flowers.

As well as decorating the town over the last three months, following their massed display at Haslemere Museum on April Fool’s Day, images of each artwork have graced a range of merchandise, including limited edition mugs, to help swell funds.

Supporters attending the auction finale tucked into a hog roast before being summoned into the auction by town crier Christian Ashdown, and additional lots donated, including the offer of a Sri Lankan meal for 12 people cooked by TV Come Dine With Me winner Mr Abeysundara, helped swell the total bids.

The final figure has not yet been announced but the Hogs exceeded all expectations, and attracted celebrity support from BBC chat show host Graham Norton, Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden and actress Julie Walters along the way.

“Haslemere Hogs seemed like a crazy idea but it has raised the profile of the town as well as raising money,” town mayor Malcolm Carter said.

“None of it would have been possible without the financial support of our sponsors.”