Spherical egg donation mistaken as 'joke' by charity

The egg has been described as "one in a billion"

A man who spontaneously purchased a "one-in-a-billion" spherical, chicken's egg after a few pints has donated it to charity.

Ed Pownell, from Lambourn in Berkshire, shelled out £150 for the egg earlier this year - describing it as "money well spent".

He recently donated it to the Iuventas Foundation - a charity that provides mentoring, life coaching and mental health support to young people across Oxfordshire.

The charity, which said it thought the donation "was a joke" at first, has since hatched a plan to put the egg up for auction.

The egg, which is round rather than ovoid, was originally discovered by a woman who found it in a box from her local supermarket in Ayr, Scotland.

David Miller, who works for Thomson Roddick Callan auction house where it was previously sold, said round eggs were thought to be a "one in a billion" occurrence.

Ed Pownall purchased the egg earlier this year

Since purchasing the egg in August, Mr Pownell had the egg blown - meaning the contents of the egg have been removed, whilst the shell has been left intact.

On being offered the donation, Roz Rapp, from the Iueventas Foundation, said: "I was slightly sceptical at first as I thought it was a joke."

Ms Rapp added that it was only "when a friend sent through the news article" she realised it was a serious offer and "immediately accepted [it]".

Bidding in the Iueventas Foundation auction, which ends on 11 December, has already cracked £200, the charity said.

Mr Pownall spotted the rarity up for sale while he was at the pub.

When asked at the time whether he had any regrets over his purchase, he said: "It's quite fun... I think for £150 it's been money well spent."