Doctor Who actor Matt Smith's car auction raises £6,300

Matt Smith, who is an ambassador for the Starlight Children's Foundation, nicknamed the car "The Shed"

Doctor Who actor Matt Smith's "pre-Tardis vehicle" - a Vauxhall Corsa he has owned since he was 18 - has raised £6,300 for a children's charity.

Smith, from Northampton, donated it to the Starlight Children's Foundation, which grants wishes to terminally ill children, to auction on eBay.

University of East Anglia graduate Smith, 30, an ambassador for the charity, nicknamed the car "The Shed".

The charity said an "ordinary" Corsa of the same age would be worth about £250.

The eBay auction of the car, first registered on 30 November 2000 and with about 60,000 miles on the clock, started 10 days ago with an opening bid of 99p.

'Beloved car'

After an epic battle between 64 bidders, the auction closed earlier with one new owner's wallet £6,300 lighter.

Before the auction, Smith said one of his reasons for selling was because the car had sat unused outside his parents' house in Northampton, and "I understand they want their driveway back".

He described the winning bid as "brilliant".

Neil Swan, chief executive of Starlight Children's Foundation, said: "The charity's aim is to brighten the lives of seriously and terminally ill children and we are enormously grateful to Matt for donating his beloved first car.

"The funds raised will enable the charity to bring fun and laughter to some very poorly children and their families."

Smith, who has announced he is stepping down from his role of the Doctor, will appear alongside Norfolk actor John Hurt - introduced as The Doctor at the end of the last series - in November's 50th anniversary episode.