Famous people have contributed to a charity auction raising funds for a new sports and social centre.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has sent his autograph, EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite donated a signed copy of the script of her hen night in the show and TV presenter Angus Deayton has produced a tie.

Rock legends Status Quo and Led Zeppelin have offered signed CDs while Poirot star David Suchet has given signed, headed notepaper from the TV series.

Other items have also been offered by sports personality Gary Lineker and entertainers Michael Barrymore, Graham Norton and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? presenter Chris Tarrant.

Their contributions will be auctioned next month to to help clubs and societies in Burgess Hill who want to provide a new £1.5 million community centre for the area.

The Friends of Bedelands community trust project, which represents local residents, has teamed up with Southdown Rovers Football Club and the Nautical Training Corps to raise funds for the project.

Frank Milligan, chairman of Bedelands Residents Association, wrote to stars asking for gifts for the charity auction and has been sent a mass of autographed goods.

He said: "To get autographs I just found people through their agents and wrote to them."

Mr Milligan said he was still waiting to hear from some but most celebrities he had approached had been very generous.

Money raised will go towards the centre which residents hope will be built in the Leylands Road and Maple Drive area of Burgess Hill within the next three years.

Mr Milligan said: "We have no facilities at the moment. The residents' association represents around 700 children and adults and there is nothing there for them."

Danny Airs, executive officer of Southdown Rovers junior football club, said the centre would be a vital meeting place for sports and social groups.

The club trains more than 200 boys and girls who currently play on four sports pitches across Burgess Hill and Bolney.

Tickets for the auction, at the Martlets Hall, Burgess Hill, on March 30 at 7.30pm, cost £5 and are available from the box office or Burgess Hill Town Council help point in Church Walk.

For further information, contact Mr Milligan on 07973 931861.