TOP Gear's Richard Hammond lent a hand to St Michael's Hospice while visiting a Ledbury pottery painting studio at the weekend.

Hammond, who lives in Weston under Penyard, near Ross-on-Wye, went into the Glazydayz studio in the Homend Trading Estate on Sunday with his family.

They each painted a mug before Lynn Lagor, a partner at the studio, asked the television presenter to design his own plate to auction off for the hospice.

Ms Lagor said: "He was more than happy to oblige. We are supporters of Beth's Wish and St Michael's Hospice, so that was automatically our first choice."

Hammond printed his hand on the plate before adding his signature and a picture of Oliver – the 1963 Opel Kadett he drove in the Top Gear Botswana special.

The plate will be auctioned off at a date yet to be decided.

Ms Lagor added: “It was a real opportunity handed to us on a plate.”

Hammond tweeted on Monday a picture of a bike he was sketching with the caption: “Ok, now this is where being bored gets you. Not ready for retirement.”

Hammond presented BBC's Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson before the latter was sacked after assaulting the show's producer.

It has been reported by the national press that Hammond and James May have declined to sign new deals to present the next series of Top Gear.