Proceeds of the Charles Clark memorial auction have been shared between four charities.

The auction at Sedgemoor Auction Centre, North Petherton, held in memory of Charles Clark, who died last year aged 59, raised £74,240.

During his lifetime auctioneer and former chairman of Greenslade Taylor Hunt, Mr Clark, raised £2million for good causes.

The money raised at the memorial auction will be divided equally between the RABI, The Farming Community Network, St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice and Somerset Bowel Cancer Support Group.

Pam Wills, regional manager of the RABI, said: “Thank you so much for choosing RABI as one of the benefitting charities from the Charles Clark auction. It was an amazing day and it was incredible how generous everybody was in both donating the lots and in supporting the bidding on the day.”

The charity helps working farmers and their dependants as well as the retired.

Kara Frampton, community fundraiser from St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice, said: “This money will make such a difference for our patients and their families facing life-limiting illnesses across Somerset.”

The Farming Community Network and Somerset Bowel Cancer Support Group were also delighted with the donations, which will go towards their work in Somerset.