SELF-confessed obsessive cleaner Kirsten Sutherland put her fears of dirt and grime aside to spend the day with York's rapid response unit - and raise more than £700 for The Lord Mayor's charities in the process.

Kirsten, who works for Norwich Union in York, had to clear a dumped mattress and even scrape a dead hedgehog off the road during her day out in the van with City of York Council's special team of cleaners.

She bid for the unusual "prize" on ebay after Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Janet Looker, launched a fundraising auction on the internet last month.

Kirsten, a technician, who admits to cleaning her hands after touching doorknobs at work, said she was inspired to bid for the item after reading about it in the Evening Press.

She eventually won with a bid of just £22 but wanted to boost the money raised by gaining sponsorship from work colleagues.

She said: "I thought they would go for it because, as many people who know me well know, I am really fastidious when it comes to anything dirty.

"I wash my hands all the time especially after walking round the building and having to touch many door handles.

"So they would be quite amazed at me doing such a disgusting thing. I was right, I have had loads of interest."

The rapid response unit is a dedicated team called out to clear items such as split rubbish bags, dumped furniture or dead animals in the road, to allow the council's other cleaning to take place uninterrupted.

A spokesman for the council said Kirsten got really stuck in.

He said: "She came across as very environmentally aware and she did a really good job."

Norwich Union matched the £344 raised in sponsorship which, together with Kirsten's original £22 bid will go to the Lord Mayor's charities - York One World Linking Association and the York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation.

Updated: 09:39 Saturday, April 30, 2005