Hirst art auctioned for charity

Controversial artist Damien Hirst has donated three sketches to a charity auction to raise money for the New Manchester Children's Hospital.

Hirst, 43, who won the Turner Prize in 1995, has given doodles of a shark, a skull and a butterfly to consumer art exhibition, Buy Art Fair.

Proceeds will go to the Five Stars Scanner Appeal, to raise £1m for an MRI scanner for the hospital.

The fair is being held at Manchester's Urbis centre from Thursday to Sunday.

About 7,000 prospective buyers are expected to attend.

New complex

Hirst's sketches are expected to fetch about £2,000 each.

Boxer Ricky Hatton and Rocky Horror creator Richard O'Brien have also donated drawings and doodles to be auctioned.

The Manchester Children's Hospital is due to be completed next year as part a new complex on Oxford Road.

It will incorporate Booth Hall Children's Hospital and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury.

The new MRI scanner will help children from Carlisle to Crewe, and, in special cases, other parts of the UK.

The scanner will enable doctors to diagnose cancer and cancer-related illnesses earlier.

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