Fans of a crime novelist are battling it out online for the chance to join him for afternoon tea.

Roy Grace creator Peter James is auctioning the chance for fans to get a chauffeur ride from London to join the best-selling author for tea at his home near Lewes for a diabetes charity.

So far the auction has attracted a top bid of $235 with 16 days of the auction still to go.

To make your bid visit brendanovak.auctionanything.com.