Organised by marketing’s Russell Ellis the auction offered 26 lots with everything from a day at the races, or a day with Team Lotus to chocolates, champagne and meals out.

Comic Relief is screened every two years by the BBC – red noses are sold by the million to support it together with many zany events taking place to raise cash.

Russell aided by Ian Dallas contacted companies to part with gifts for the March 13 appeal.

The response was amazing (perhaps they should be selling replacement windows?) with many of the prizes worth hundreds of pounds.

The response from Anglian staff was equally amazing with some auction lots, such as tickets to a Michael Jackson 02 concert, going for more than twice their face value.

Other bids saw the winners getting real bargains. The day out with the Lotus race team had a face value of £300 but the winner carried off the prize for £250.

“We had hundreds of bids during the auction,” said a delighted Russell. “The support we got was fantastic. And with bids such as the £450 for the Michael Jackson tickets it was great to see the total rising.

“The companies we approached were just fantastic, what with hotels offering weekend breaks and vouchers for stores such as John Lewis there was something to tempt most people.”

Norwich City Football Club fans were well catered for with tickets for the winning home game against Plymouth followed by a meal, and another prize of a signed football top.

At the end of this year’s TV broadcast a record £30 Million had been pledged to the programme.

The Ideal Home Show, now in its101st year, takes place from 20^th March to 13^th April at Earls Court in London.  This year’s focus is on the theme of making the most of the home you live in rather than going to the expense of moving.   Anglian Home Improvements were invited to be key sponsors at the show for one of the event’s main features, the ‘Extreme Home Makeover’, aimed to demonstrate how even the drabbest house can be given a make over that turns it into the house of your dreams.

The Anglian Classic Ideal Home will be a remodel of an uninspiring 1960’s house, undertaken by Surrey based Back to Front Exterior Design, which utilises a number of Anglian products such as new windows and doors and an eye-catching conservatory, to create a fabulous ‘New England’ style clapboard home.

Melanie Russell, Head of Marketing at Anglian said: We are delighted to have been asked to be a sponsor at the Ideal Home Show, especially given this year’s them of don’t move improve.  The increasing trend towards homeowners wishing to improve their home rather than move, is a reflection of a changing mindset from seeing a home as a short term investment, towards seeing a home as a place to settle and make a life.

“People who want to avoid the hassle of uprooting, with the expenditure and stress of moving, should be looking towards making real differences, such as investing in quality products or adding extra space, rather than small cosmetic changes to maximise the potential of their homes.  For example adding a conservatory or converting a garage can come in at half the cost of a full extension and add substantial value to your property. 

“But it is important to get it right. Investing in a professional job with a reputable company using quality materials, will prevent you wasting money on ill-advised renovations or being the victim of a corner-cutting job.  

“Eco efficiency and security issues are also high on homeowners’ agendas.  Simple measures such as fitting double glazing windows and doors with anti bump/anti snap locks and built in security cameras will ensure you feel comfortable and safe, whilst saving you a few extra pennies in the long run too.”

All Anglian products used in the Ideal Home show home were chosen on account of their ability to deliver cost effective (and in many cases long term cost reducing), eco-friendly and visually appealing home improvement solutions. 

Of particular appeal are windows and a conservatory made from Anglian’s popular new White Woodgrain product, which provides the natural look of painted wood with the benefits of low maintenance, high performance PVCU.  

Anglian products to be incorporated into the Classic Ideal Home are:

·         Modern Garden Room conservatory in white woodgrain finish, complete with Solaroof  - designed to reduce ultra-violet rays and sun heat and glare to make your conservatory more comfortable and long wearing

·         Stylish driveway, designed using HydrosmartÔ exfiltration permeable clay paving system – environmentally friendly and permeable surface, slip, skid and abrasion resistant plus resistant to degradation from oil and petrol spillages

·         A variety of window styles – from tilt and turn to sliding sash, in differing finishes  - from white woodgrain to rich mahogany, and complete with a range of glazing options

·         Glass reinforced polyester doors – with all the charm of period hardwood but with none of the disadvantages like painting or warping

·         New Heritage range Rooftrim – aluminium guttering and downpipes for high performance but with solid traditional appearance

All visitors to the show will be eligible to be entered for a prize draw to win £10,000 of Anglian windows and doors via a ‘spot the difference’ competition where the challenge is to identify real wood amongst a host of White Woodgrain finished windows.

For more information on the 2009 Ideal Home Show visit www.idealhomeshow.co.uk To learn more about Anglian Home Improvements visit www.anglianhome.co.uk

We offer emergency direct access accommodation, residential care,support and development to enable everyone to achieve their full potential and a greater level of independence.