THOUSANDS of pounds have been raised towards a new glass museum in Wordsley following the auction of celebrity designed glasswork.

A number of famous names including comic Sir Lenny Henry, footballer Steve Bull, singer Beverley Knight and actress Emma Thompson created sketches to be turned into works of art.

The project, led by Kingswinford-based artist Allister Malcolm, saw artists from across the country transform the celebrities' scribbles as part of this year’s International Festival of Glass.

The completed pieces were auctioned off at Fieldings Auctioneers in Stourbridge on Saturday to raise funds towards the British Glass Foundation’s new museum on the old Stuart Crystal site in Wordsley.

Allister and his team of artists created 35 pieces which were put up for auction and all but four sold for a total of around £10,000.

Auctioneer Nick Davies said: “They were really popular and the BGF were really pleased with the result. It’s a big start to their fundraising campaign for the new build.

“It was a good idea and it was well supported.”

The new £5.5 million museum, being developed by Complex Development Projects, will replace Broadfield House Glass Museum which closed its doors to the public for the final time last month.

It is said that the state-of-the-art development will enable the borough’s glass collection to be showcased in a more accessible and visitor friendly fashion.