It's not every day a bookmaker offers to place a bet for a punter, stumps up the cash and then offers to pay back the stake if it is lost.

Adam Hebborn, manager of William Hill in Western Road, Brighton, made the unusual gesture on behalf of The Argus Appeal.

He offered to put £25 on Albion striker Bobby Zamora scoring the first goal in the match against Reading yesterday.

The odds of 2-1 meant a possible £75 boost to the appeal, which raises cash for a host of Sussex charities.

Adam has offered to donate £25 to the appeal regardless of the match result and is raffling an Albion shirt, signed by the first team and manager Peter Taylor, with the proceeds going to appeal.

Adam said: "I am Brighton born and bred and I'm very aware of the appeal and the good work it does for charities.

"Whenever I think of Christmas I always think of The Argus Appeal and people in crazy costumes collecting money. It's a good cause and I wanted to do my bit."

Raffle tickets, priced £1, are available from the William Hill bookmakers at 87 Western Road. The draw will be made in early January.