PLAYERS at Whyteleafe Netball Club have shown their Christmas spirit by giving a gift of their own to a local charity.

The club has raised more than £2,000 for The Lily Foundation thanks to a charity auction and donations from family members, friends and businesses.

With gift-match support also arriving from companies Barclays and Mercer, the Whyteleafe players were able to hand over a cheque for £2,160 to Liz Curtis, founder of the Warlingham-based charity.

The auction featured more than 60 items, including a Queen album signed by the band's guitarist Brian May, while separate donations came in from Crystal Palace Football Club, Croham Hurst and Farleigh Court golf clubs and a number of other local businesses.

The Lily Foundation supports research into Mitochondrial disease, a condition affecting the body's cells and their energy.

Mel Adams, chairwoman of Whyteleafe NC, said: "The amount we raised was far beyond expectations. Liz was astounded at how hard we'd worked.

"We picked the Lily Foundation as it is a local charity to us, as until a couple of weeks ago we played our home games in Warlingham before moving to Croydon High School.

"We approached local businesses, knocked on their doors, sent them e-mails and begged for donations."

The charity auction was Whyteleafe Netball Club's most ambitious event, with the club itself relying on fundraising and subscriptions.