A mayor swapped her gown and chain for a Gucci handbag and champagne at a special fundraising event.

Clothes, seafront meals and a luxury Spanish holiday were among the items auctioned off at an event in Milla Grace.

The independent boutique in Dukes Lane, Brighton, organised it as a way to raise money for Brighton and Hove mayor Denise Cobb.

A cheque of £1,698 was presented to Coun Cobb by Lydia Colasurdo and Vashikeh Miller, who work at the shop.

The money will go to the mayor’s charities, which are The Argus Appeal, the Martlets Hospice, Rockinghorse, Off The Fence and Age UK. A spokeswoman for the shop, said: “All guests and ourselves thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

“We are grateful to all those who attended and all our donors for supporting such a brilliant cause and helping to make the evening successful.”

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