HAMPSHIRE-based charity Wessex Heartbeat hit the jackpot at the weekend when Lotto girl Gigi Morley led proceedings at a gala ball.

The inaugural Saints Wessex Heartbeat Charity Golf Classic and Gala Ball was held at St Mary's Stadium, helping to raise more than £85,000 for the charity's coffers.

Around 400 trustees, sponsors and guests of Wessex Heartbeat, including Saints legends Matthew Le Tissier and Francis Benali, filled 37 tables for a night of music, dancing and, of course, fundraising.

Everyone had their eyes fixed firmly on a brand new Volkswagen Golf Match donated by Peter Cooper Volkswagen of Hedge End, which was the star prize in the evening's raffle. Punters were limited to four tickets at £25 each.

Comedy operatic trio The Three Waiters and Hampshire band Rufus Stone serenaded diners as auction bids were taken for items including a signed Saints FA Cup shirt, a box at the Royal Albert Hall and a Ryder Cup celebration picture.

The largest sale of the night was for four framed golf pin flags signed by Tiger Woods, which sold for £5,200.

Organised by keen golfer Bill Webb, who runs Bowlers Sports Bar and Restaurant at the Southampton Municipal Golf Course, the event was the first of its type that the charity has held.

Companies including Parkhouse and Wyatt, Lawton Communications, Omega, Cadbury Trebor Bassett and The Rose Bowl paid £2,500 to field a team in a charity golf day the previous day.

More than 160 golfers had taken to the fairways at Southampton Municipal Golf Course before they dressed up for the ball.

By the end of the night Wessex Heartbeat's chief executive, Alan Blair, had lost his voice but managed to hail the event as a great success and thanked everyone for their participation.

The winner of the Volkswagen Golf? None other than Hampshire Cricket Club coach Paul Terry.