A BASS guitar player of an East London band has donated the money he raised by auctioning off one of his guitars to a children’s charity.

Vincent Riordan, 58, from Wingrave Crescent in Brentwood, plays in the Cockney Rebels.

On May 10 the band played to 35,000 people at the final West Ham FC match at Upton Park before the club moved to their new venue at the Olympic Stadium.

Vincent auctioned off the Dean bass guitar as the event and it went to top bidder Tony Lyons for £1,000.

Vincent then decided to donate the money straight to Little Havens Hospice, which cares for seriously ill babies, children and teenagers, across Essex.

Vincent said: “It was a real honour to be able to play my bass guitar with my band, Cockney Rebels, at the last ever West Ham United game at the Boleyn Ground.

"I couldn’t think of a better way to mark the occasion than by auctioning my guitar to help raise some much needed funds for Little Havens.

He added that he knows the hospice does great work caring for families across Essex and having visited in person he was both amazed and inspired by what he discovered.

Mr Riordan said: "It’s such a caring and happy place and the facilities they have for the children are fantastic!

"I’m only too pleased to do my bit to help and I want to encourage others to do their bit too by donating or organizing a fundraising event in aid of the hospice so they can continue their great work.”

On Wednesday September 7 Vincent met Tony’s son, Billy, at Little Havens to present him with the guitar and make the donation to Little Havens Community Fundraiser, Peter Hall.