A HOLIDAY in the South of France, a harmonica owned by a member of The Who and a beautiful rocking horse are among the items to be auctioned this month for the Bihar Project UK.

The lots have been donated to Archway School’s appeal to raise £30,000 to build a school for an Indian orphanage in the village of Chakwaja.

School governor Sarah Thorne, co-organiser of the auction, said: "We have got such a mixture of items, from Christmas presents to larger lots, so there is really something for everybody.

"It is important people turn up because, although we can give money to India for immediate relief, education is the long-term way out of poverty."

The Bihar Auction will take place at the Old Crown in Paganhill on Saturday, November 21 at 7pm.

Conducted by professional auctioneer Philip Taubenheim, it will feature about 50 items donated by businesses, residents, parents and teachers.

Former Archway headteacher Vivien Warren has donated a two-week stay in a holiday home in a village in the South of France.

Driving instructor Tim Ballinger, an ex-Archway pupil and governor, is offering a complete set of driving lessons. Tetbury Rocking Horses has donated an exquisite hand-carved and hand-painted rocking horse.

Lead singer with The Editors, Tom Smith, a former Archway pupil, has donated CDs signed by the whole band.

An authentic polyphonia harmonica owned by the late John Entwistle, bass guitarist with The Who, who lived near Stow-on-the-Wold, will also be auctioned on eBay during the auction.

Meanwhile Catherine Whittaker has donated a Forest Green Rovers football shirt signed by the team.

Other items include football tickets, an Elton John gold disc set, a night at the Marriott Hotel in Kensington and a tour of Parliament, as well as film posters, meals, health and beauty treatments, dancing and guitar lessons.

The lots will be displayed in the Stroud Town Council office in London Road for two weeks from Monday, November 9.

Auction catalogues will be available in the council office, the Old Crown and the SNJ office in Lansdown.

* To donate an item, make a bid in advance or arrange bidding by phone, contact Sarah Thorne on 01453 766357 or abacusremovals@btconnect.com