An animal rights campaigner who grew up in Kingston is going to extreme lengths to raise money for her cause.

Ingrid Newkirk, founder of animal charity People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) and its European managing director, is auctioning off her services as a personal assistant for the day to raise money for the charity.

The animal rights champion is even willing to perform abattoir chores or go out with shooting parties but is hoping one of Peta's supporters comes up with the winning bid.

She said: "I'm hoping the good guys will win and I'm slightly nervous about what I may be doing if they don't.

"I can stand up for myself though and if I see animal cruelty, I will certainly say something about it."

Ingrid, 56, developed her love of animals early on through walks in Richmond Park with her Irish red setter.

Her family featured in the pages of the Surrey Comet when they took the unusual step of moving to India in 1957, when she was eight.

Ingrid went on to create Peta in 1970 and since then her campaigning for animal rights has taken her across the world, receiving the 2004 activist of the year award. She now lives in America.

She said: "The world is an angry place and reducing animal cruelty is an enormous undertaking."

With a day left until the auction ends, bids on eBay have reached $10,300 or £5,882.

For more information go to www.peta.org.uk.