Gambling officials search charity

Bobby Wright was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2005

Officials from the Gambling Commission have carried out a search at the office of a Devon charity which helps children with cancer.

Bobby's Fund, based at Kenn near Exeter, was initially set up to pay for specialist treatment for six-year-old Bobby Wright.

He was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in April 2005, but has been free of the disease for the past two years.

The fund has continued to raise money to help other children.

It cold-calls members of the public and sells them raffle tickets.

Bobby's father, Kevin Wright, said the Gambling Commission was trying to establish whether Bobby's Fund qualified for a free licence. He insisted there was no question of wrong-doing.

Devon and Cornwall police said officers had assisted the Gambling Commission in the execution of a search warrant.

A spokesman for the Gambling Commission said it could not comment, but said Mr Wright's fund remained on their list of lotteries licensed to raise more than £250,000 a year.