MUMBAI: Some of Britain's sporting celebrities rubbed shoulders with the wealthiest individuals in a night where they lead the way in raising nearly half a million pounds for BBC Children in Need at The Great Big Bid charity gala auction.Sporting greats like David Beckham, champion rally driver Colin McRae,rising star of the Pro-Am race scene and model, Jodie Kidd all contributed majorly ,to the event which kicks off a week of fund-raising on BBC One in The Great Big Bid.

Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff's, Ashes-wining bat - custom made for him and one of the few to survive the England hero's smashing performance during the Test series - sold for £22,000 to millionaire UK businessman, Nick Robinson, in a heated battle with Australian paparazzi boss, Darryn Lyons.It was dramatic as Lyons threatened to turn the bat to ashes on Australian soil. The bat, signed by Freddie, was only saved from going up in flames when Robinson made the winning bid as the hammer was about to fall.

Beckham once again showed his generosity towards children by offering four places at the opening of his new football academy. The David Beckham Academy is due to open next month and the four lucky children will not only meet their hero ,but, be presented with an exclusive new kit and be the first to try out the facilities.

The lot was snapped up for £15,000 by Peter Jones from BBC TWO's Dragon's Den who immediately, on Beckham's recommendation, presented it back to BBC Children in Need to select the four children from one of the many projects they fund. Jones also walked away with one of the evenings most expensive lots when he bid £55,000 for a passenger ride with World Rally Champion driver, Colin McRae.

Supermodel Jodie Kidd, who has recently made a name a for herself as a skilled amateur racing driver, offered the experience of a lifetime trip which will see the winning bidder, computer magnate, Paul Barry Walsh, who paid £15,000, take a luxury private jet to Bologna for a VIP visit to the Bologna Motor Show where he will see Jodie compete in the Maserati Trofeo Pro-Am race.