Comedian Eddie Izzard has donated £20,000 to a secondary school in his home town of Bexhill.

The comic responded to an appeal by Bexhill High School to help raise £50,000.

The school needed the cash to support its bid for special technology college status.

If the bid is successful, the school will receive an additional £700,000 of Government money to carry out improvements.

Head teacher Mike Conn said: "He has given us a cheque for £20,000. He has also given us a gift aid form to fill in, which means we can claim another £5,000 in tax relief. It was a wonderful surprise."

If the special status bid is successful the school plans to invest in computer technology to help with teaching across the curriculum.

Nearly a third of the money would be used to benefit the community in the Sidley area.

Parents could be invited to go into school to learn computing skills alongside their children.

Mr Conn said: "Eddie is part of this community and he is a great supporter of Sidley in particular. He saw our bid as a worthwhile project and decided to put his money where his mouth is.

"Although he is an international figure and famous all over the world he has chosen to invest in a tiny place on the South Coast like Bexhill. It is just wonderful."

The school presented its bid to the Government yesterday. It will be up to ministers to decide whether the school can become a technology college.