The generosity of our readers has delighted us this week with nearly £800 donated to the Hog for our Hospice campaign over the weekend.

Yesterday we received a stack of cheques totalling £695 plus a cash collection of £98 from those who attended Ta Ta Trotters.

Last week we vowed to raise £5,000 to buy the Dr Trott and Nurse Honey Cured pig sculpture for St Elizabeth Hospice – a thank you for hosting the trail this summer and for putting Ipswich on the map.

Generous readers have contributed varying amounts between £5 and £500 – and we are now at £3,000.

Sending her donation, one reader said: “It has been a wonderful event for the town, although I was unable to see all of the pigs, only the ones in the town centre, I thought they were magnificent.

“I do hope you are able to raise the £5,000 to purchase the pig for the hospice.”

The campaign has been a huge success but we still need another £2,000 to reach our target and today we are calling on schools, work mates and community groups to help.

Could you hold a non-uniform day, organise a bake-sale or do a raffle to support the cause? We have until auction day – September 22 – to reach the target.

Yesterday, Ed Sheeran, the inspiration behind the larger-than-life pig Ed Sheer-Ham revealed he would be signing the effigy, in a bid to boost its value.

Norman Lloyd, Pigs Gone Wild project manager, said: “We are hugely excited to announce that Ed will be signing the pig and writing a personal message for the highest bidder.

“I’m sure that everyone bidding for Ed Sheer-Ham will be a huge fan of the pop star and the promise of him signing the pig will hopefully encourage people to bid a bit more for the sought-after sculpture.”

It is hoped the auction will raise £100,000 for the Ipswich-based hospice.

You can register your interest to attend the auction at www.pigsgonewild.co.uk/auction