Friday's auction for L-Istrina, which was broadcast on TVM's Xarabank, raised another Lm16,329 until yesterday morning, boosting the total amount collected so far to just over Lm900,000.

The annual fund-raising marathon, organised voluntarily by the team of Where's Everybody?, had raised Lm882,175 on December 28 but donations kept trickling in.

L-Istrina producer P.J. Vassallo said it was overwhelming to raise over Lm16,000 from just 90 items which auctioned during Xarabank.

There were still another 50 items which were donated, but were not sold during the auction and Mr Vassallo said the team was still seeing how to sell them.

Ira Losco's success at the last Eurovision Song Contest was reflected during the auction when the white lace dress she wore on the big night was sold for Lm700.

The see-through dress was bought by a man who plans to display it prominently in a showcase.

Another highlight of the auction was a watercolour by Edwin Galea, Seascape, which realised Lm1,100.

Another watercolour by John Martin Borg, The Laferla Cross, was auctioned for Lm725, and an oil painting by Alfred Briffa, Nude Figure, went for Lm725.

Unfortunately, bidding over the Internet had to be stopped half way through the programme after some pranksters submitted unrealistic and exorbitant bids.

"I love jokes, but at a time when we are trying to raise money for charity they're not welcome," Peppi Azzopardi said. "However, this did not stop us from selling the items because people called instead," he added.

The telephone lines are open until tonight and those who still wish to donate money can call on 5004-9005 to give Lm5 and 5004-9010 for Lm10.