Saucy painting bought for £5,000

The painting was sold for five times the asking price

Jam, marmalade and mint sauce have been used to depict Manchester's Central Library on canvas.

Blackberry-flavoured trees, marmalade pavements and a tartare sauce sky are all part of Lindi Kirwin's artistic take on the building.

The artwork, called Manchester Preserved, was snapped up by the Dragon's Den entrepreneur Theo Paphitis for £5,000 at auction on Tuesday night.

The money will be donated to The New Children's Hospital Appeal.

Ms Kirwin created the painting, which had a reserve of £1,000, at her studio in Vernon Mill in Stockport.

The artist, whose son was treated at Booth Hall Children's Hospital, said: "I must admit I've never been approached with a commission quite like this one.

'Big impact'

"As I began to work with the jams and sauces, though, I got used to the medium.

"Each product required a different approach and I used brushes, spatulas and my fingers to get the finished result.

Lindi Kirwin was commissioned by a local jam-making firm

"This project means a lot to me as my son was treated in Booth Hall Children's hospital which will be replaced by the New Manchester Children's Hospital."

The appeal has been launched in an effort to raise £20m for Manchester's new Children's Hospital.

Local jam-maker F Duerr & Sons, which commissioned the artwork, is one of many businesses across Manchester to become involved in the fundraising drive.

Mr Paphitis said: "This campaign is a great way for businesses, who may normally feel they can't make a big impact, to pull together to help to raise money and make a real difference to children and their families who will utilise the new hospital."

It is the largest children's hospital in the UK and will treat over 150,000 youngsters a year.