Westbury musician Leander Morales has raised £11,000 for the Royal United Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, after auctioning an acoustic guitar signed by world-famous musicians.

Mr Morales managed to get a guitar signed by dozens of world-renowned artists and celebrities, including Brian May of Queen, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and actor Nicholas Cage.

The folk artist started his fundraising mission for NICU after his daughter Alana, who is now 10, was born nine weeks prematurely. He launched the sale with a silent auction this November, with the highest bid setting the reserve for a 10-day auction on eBay. It had wide media attention when Coldplay, boxer Ricky Hatton, comedian Paddy McGuinness and others tweeted about the guitar4unborn campaign.

Mr Morales, 36, said: “We are delighted announce that the guitar4unborn campaign raised a staggering £11,000. It’s a wonderful amount of money to raise for NICU.

“The grand total also includes the £1,000 donated by former Dilton Marsh Primary School teacher Diane Lewis. The winning bidder on the guitar wishes to remain anonymous.

“I want to say a huge thanks to everyone who placed a bid, tweeted, shared and gave coverage for the story. We are very grateful for the support of all those who joined us in this campaign.

“The money will go a long way in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the awareness of the campaign will travel even further, encouraging more fundraising and donations. So, I think we can say that’s job done.”

Mr Morales, who raised £6,500 in 2009 for NICU when he trekked 117 miles with a group of friends, managed to get the signatures with the help of friends and fellow musicians Cara Dillon and Sam Lakeman.