MORE than 20 lots will be up for grabs tonight at a silent auction raising money to help British servicemen wounded in action.

MORE than 20 lots will be up for grabs tonight at a silent auction raising money to help British servicemen wounded in action.

The event at the Hotel Elizabeth Orwell in Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, is being organised by former soldier Darren Aitchison in aid of the Help for Heroes charity.

People will be able to go along to the hotel between 7pm and 9.30pm and take part - there will be no auctioneer, no arm raising, no bid battles, but tables with the lots displayed where bidders write next how much they would be prepared to pay.

“People can bid as many times as they like and are welcome to hang around at the bar and keep a check on the lots they want - the highest bids at the end of the evening will win the item,” said Mr Aitchison, 39, who lives with his wife and four children in Constable Road, Felixstowe.

“I have had some fantastic support for the event and want to thank all the businesses who have so kindly donated items for the evening.”

Lots include a photo shoot and family portrait with Baileys Photography worth �465, a year's full membership of Felixstowe Leisure Centre worth �390, two family memberships for Felixstowe Lawn Tennis Club, driving lessons, shopping vouchers, Ipswich Town match tickets, meals, golf lessons and many others.

Mr Aitchison, who served 12 years with the Royal Engineers and now works for Integralis Ltd, an independent IT security company, is currently training to take part in a desert trek for Help for Heroes, part of the Pilgrim Bandits team walking 110 miles in five days across the Sahara.

The team of about 20, with a Bedouin guide expert in survival techniques, will face extreme temperatures and a wild landscape.

During the day it will be 36C to 40C but at night, as they camp, it will drop to 5C.