A hospice which cares for cancer patients is more than £10,000 better off thanks to Mark Little.

The Aussie actor and comedian won the cash when he appeared on The Weakest Link TV quiz show hosted by Anne Robinson.

She started off by saying Mark had not been seen much on television since he left the soap series Neighbours.

When he replied he had been doing live work in stage shows she retorted that must be hard for a soap actor.

Mark snapped back: "That's a bit rich coming from a gameshow host!"

He went on to have the last laugh by winning the celebrity edition of the show and netting a £10,650 cheque for charity.

Other stars on the show screened last November included Sir Tim Rice, Linda Bellingham, Nigel Planer and Linda Nolan.

Mark immediately announced he would give the money to the hospice for people with terminal cancer.

He presented a cheque to patients and staff at the hospice in Wayfield Avenue, Hove, yesterday.

Mark said: "Brighton and Hove is my adopted home and I wanted the money to go to The Martlets because I knew it would go to local people."

Mark also presented the keys for a new car to the winner of the hospice's fifth birthday draw.

The win had special meaning for Doreen Burridge, 80, from Rottingdean, who worked as a volunteer at the charity's shop in Saltdean for five years.

Mrs Burridge now has cancer herself and has been a patient at the hospice. She was too ill to collect the keys, which were accepted by son Ian.