Our generous readers

You still have until 1pm today to enter your bid in The Independent's special charity auction. Even before the bidding closes, though, it is clear that the enterprise has been a resounding success – thanks to you, our readers.

You still have until 1pm today to enter your bid in The Independent's special charity auction. Even before the bidding closes, though, it is clear that the enterprise has been a resounding success – thanks to you, our readers.

Announcing an auction that capitalised on the internal resources of this newspaper or, as we called them, "customised journalistic services", was a risk – what if no one had bid anything? – but one that is paying off handsomely. At the most recent count, the auction alone has raised more than £18,000 for our three Africa charities.

It has always been apparent, since the earliest days of The Independent, that our readers have a particular commitment to this newspaper and a particular sense of involvement in its identity and causes. The charity auction has proved this once again. So, thank you – and keep those bids coming in.