Sir Paul McCartney has made a £10,000 donation to a political party to help fund research into animal welfare issues including a ban on foxhunting.
The former Beatle, who lives in Peasmarsh, near Rye, was persuaded to give the cash by Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who represents Lewes.
Mr Baker wrote to ask the star to help the party's campaigns on animal welfare.
The donation will help pay for work done by Claire Robinson, the party's animal welfare researcher, who briefs MPs.
Mr Baker said: "I was in contact with him about animal issues and I asked if he was prepared to help and if he was prepared to fund some research in Parliament.
"The aim is to improve the awareness of animal issues and the donation helped in bringing this about.
"It's not particularly a Lib Dem issue. It's simply that he saw a way of funding research into animal welfare in Parliament. He still maintains a non-party political standpoint.
"Obviously I'm very pleased that I can do something about the cause of animals and I'm pleased that Paul has been able to help."
The money helped pay for a year of research.
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