Railway enthusiasts are being offered a chance to snap up a piece of Brighton train station history.

Southern Railway has donated one of the station’s unusual circular benches to the Martlets Hospice in Hove to help raise funds for the charity.

It is now on sale on eBay with the hope railway fans and those with large gardens will bid for the iconic concourse furniture.

The bench is one of a number replaced when Southern finished the £5m refurbishment of the station.

It is made up of individual seats which when put together form a circle.

The shape is ideal for ringing a large tree in the garden but the seating can also be used individually anywhere.

Southern’s Andy Harrowell said: “This bench has been an integral part of Brighton station for many years and so we’re hoping bidding on this rare piece of railwayana will be fast and furious and raise a good amount for the Martlets.”

Elizabeth Baxter from the hospice said: “We are delighted that Southern Rail have chosen to donate these historic benches to the Martlets.

“They have been in use at Brighton Station for more than 30 years and literally millions of people have sat on them.

“If those benches could talk they would certainly have some stories to tell.

“We are confident that they will appeal to not only collec- tors of railway memorabilia but garden design lovers as well.”

The Martlets provides end- of-life-care services to adults with terminal illness in Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas.

It is not part of the NHS and so receives less than a third of its funding from the Government.

It relies on the support of the community to help it raise more than £8,000 a day to provide the care patients and their families need.

Anyone interested in placing a bid can visit www.e- bay.co.uk, search for Brighton Station Concourse Circular Benches – Southern Railway for Park/ Garden.

The auction started at 6pm on Thursday with £1,000 start- ing bid and runs until Saturday.