A charity has raised more than £2,000 in a Facebook auction.

Following the cancellation of their Strawberry Tea Party, St Alban’s National Childbirth Trust’s (NCT) impromptu auction asked Facebook users to donate online for raffle prizes.

Between 6am on Saturday and 10pm on Sunday, £2,307 was raised from the sale of 58 items.

Some of the auctioned gifts included a gym pass with personal training sessions, a swimming course and music classes.

There was also a sleep consultation, a Mothercare hamper and a number of gift vouchers for local restaurants and pubs.

NCT St Albans and District joint branch co-coordinator Sacha Bedford said: “We were all very disappointed to cancel Strawberry Tea as it has always been a very popular event.

“However, I am so pleased that all of our wonderful raffle donors agreed to us trying something new and converting the raffle to an online auction.

“The results were outstanding and so we shall look into holding another one nearer the Christmas period.”

NCT is a childbirth and parenting charity. They offer information and advice on pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and parenthood.

It campaigns to improve maternity care and ensure better facilities for new parents.