AUTHOR, historian and fundraiser Ken Hicks has presented a further £3,000 to Mountbatten, through sales of his nearly sold-out publication, An Island Legacy.

Mr Hicks, 84, who received his MBE from The Queen in the Birthday Honours last year for services to the Island community, has sold virtually all the 1,000 copies.

An Island Legacy, the Isle of Wight Through the Eyes of the Brannon Family, was supported by the Isle of Wight County Press.

It was a limited edition print run based on more than 120 original engravings of the Island by George, Alfred and Philip Brannon, covering nearly every major scene and landmarks of the Island, and comparing them to modern coloured photographs.

The latest donation is additional to a cheque for £5,000 he presented to Mountbatten in November 2017.

Mr Hicks said: "Well over 960 books have now been sold and I've just got a few left, which I think will go quite quickly.

"Many of my friends and one or two of my relations have been cared for by Mountbatten in the past and I think it's probably fair to say that it is the most loved charity on the Isle of Wight.

"I think the hospice does such an outstanding job. It needs the money and has such a vigorous and energetic team and I really wanted to help the hospice."

Nigel Hartley, chief executive of Mountbatten, said: "We are so very grateful to Ken for his outstanding contribution towards supporting Island people and their families.

"It is not surprising that his book has been so popular and a wonderful legacy to the Island in more ways than one.

"It is thanks to the dedication of supporters such as Ken that we will be able to reach more Island people in need of our support when facing death, dying and bereavement."

As well as supporting the hospice, Ken's book has provided £5,000 of funding to the Isle of Wight Historical Association to allow bursaries for history students.