IT is just the sort of thing you can imagine Dot Cotton wearing down the Queen Vic - and you'd be right.

A brooch worn by the popular EastEnders character is set to be the star lot in a Hampshire charity auction.

The item of jewellery is part of a sparkling array of lots donated by celebrities for Eastleigh's St John Ambu-lance division's fundraising event.

Coming under the auctioneer's hammer on Saturday will be more than 30 items including signed photographs, books and souvenirs.

Fundraiser Agnes Buck tracked the names and addresses of stars through the Internet and management agencies.

She said: "I started at the beginning of the year and wrote more than 100 letters. Those who responded were really nice."

The nation's most famous grumbler, Victor Meldrew, played by the very amiable Richard Wilson, obliged with a signed photograph.

The brooch from the EastEnders star is a gold colour with pink stones.

"It is typically Dot," said Agnes, who has managed to gather an impressive array of pictures and souvenirs from the world of showbiz and sport.

There is a programme signed by Saints players and also a souvenir from those soccer superstars at Old Trafford.

The picture gallery of stars, which will go to the highest bidder at the Eastleigh auction, includes Graham Norton, Robbie Coltrane, Rowan Atkinson, Ozzy Osbourne and Ricky Gervais from The Office.

Celebrity cook Antony Worrall Thompson also sent a signed photo, along with a best wishes message. Entertainer Danny La Rue, who lives in Southampton, donated a photograph, a signed theatre poster and a CD.

Eastleigh St John Ambulance Division's officer- in-charge Robert Ryder says: "Celebrities have generously donated personal items and signed photos to help raise money.

"St John volunteers provide First Aid support to people in the town but we receive no formal funding.

"These charity events enable us to keep our ambulance on the road and maintain our high level of First Aid support."

The sale is being held on Saturday from 1pm at the Cranbury Centre, Cranbury Road, Eastleigh.

For further information contact Eastleigh's St John Ambulance on 023 8025 1782.