Norfolk dinosaur and mammoth charity auction raises £427,000

An auction of 60 colourful dinosaur and mammoth statues has raised more than £427,000 for a charity.

The GoGoDiscover sculptures were on display for more than 10 weeks, from June to September, across Norwich and Norfolk.

It raised thousands for Break, a charity which supports children and young people in and after care.

The highest bid of the night was £10,100 for Copper Mammoth, with two other pieces selling for £10,000 each.

Match of the Mammoth, a sculpture that was outside Norwich City Football Club, was sold for £4,700.

Jeremy Goss, a former player who helped to sell it, said: "The artistry involved is just terrific."

Celebrity auctioneers Charles Hanson and Natasha Raskin-Sharpe, from BBC's Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Roadshow, were in charge of the hammer at Norwich Cathedral on Wednesday night.

From 27 June to 10 September, 55 Tyrannosaurus rex sculptures were stationed around Norwich and 24 Steppe Mammoths appeared in King's Lynn, Cromer, Holkham, the Norfolk Broads, Hemsby and Pensthorpe.

Eleanor Edge, Break's partnership manager and it was a "fantastic evening" and everyone had been "so generous".

"We're so grateful to everyone who dug deep and helped us raise such a phenomenal amount which will enable us to give young people the support they need when they leave care."

Pete Marron, the project manager, said: "So many people have fallen in love with them and have their favourites.

"Our incredible artists have created some amazing designs making something completely unique."

The event was organised by Break in partnership with Wild in Art.

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