A BUSINESS park will be holding an auction next week to raise money for a homeless charity in York.

Westminster Place business park has organised an auction next week with Wombells to sell two ‘Monarch of style statues’ which have been based at the site since it was first built in 2000.

The money raised will be donated towards Safe And Sound Homes (SASH), following the success last year when Westminster Place raised £2,000 for the charity.

Tim Whitley, the site's building manager , said: “We have delivered an extensive refurbishment of Westminster Place, providing new studios for smaller businesses and grow-on space and we are now turning our attention to the landscaping and grounds.

“The improvements to the existing cafe, to provide a refurbished amenity for the tenants, cycle store, garden and outdoor seating, mean we now need a new home for the stag and hunter statues. I’ve had quite a few enquiries from prospective purchasers and I thought it would be a great opportunity to raise funds, with all of the proceeds from the sale going to SASH. A local businesses has already placed a bid of £550 which is a great starting point.”

Ruth Fawcett from SASH said: "It’s wonderful to be working with the team at Westminster Place once more and this is such a creative way of raising funds for SASH – we’re really looking forward to hearing how much the statues go for. The money raised will be used to help young people facing homelessness in the local area.”

The auction will be held on Saturday, May 11 at 10am at Wombells on Glaisdale Road, Northminster Business Park, Upper Poppleton. The statues can be viewed online from Wednesday (May 8) at wombells.co.uk. Telephone bids must be booked beforehand on 01904 790777.