Kim BriscoeTechnophile Stephen Fry has flouted his self-imposed Twitter ban to help promote a Norwich runner's charity auction of a signed Canaries ball.Kim Briscoe

Technophile Stephen Fry has flouted his self-imposed Twitter ban to help promote a Norwich runner's charity auction of a signed Canaries ball.

The actor and comedian has sworn off using the social networking site in a bid to finish his new book.

With more than 1,400,000 followers, he is regarded as one of the most influential posters on the Twitter website, but decided to take a break so he could concentrate on his work.

However, the Norfolk-based celebrity kindly went back on his ban and posted his first Tweet in two weeks to promote a charity auction after 24-year-old Holly Lambert contacted him with a plea for help.

Within 12 hours the eBay auction website page for the Norwich fan's signed Norwich City ball jumped from being seen by just 250 people to having more than 26,000 visitors and it now stands at more than 30,000.

Miss Lambert, who grew up in Drayton and went to Hellesdon High School, said: 'Somebody at work suggested I email Stephen Fry because he's a Norwich City fan and ask if he could help.'

The University of East Anglia graduate, who is currently living in London but plans return to live in Norwich in a couple of months, said she managed to track down his PA's contact details and his email address through a work colleague.

After being turned down by the PA, she boldly emailed Mr Fry and he helped by posting a link to the auction.

She said: 'It is amazing what he has done for the auction and I have even had another �100 donated by people who I don't even know and who read about my fundraising thanks to his post.'

The ball, which was donated by Aviva thanks to the help of Miss Lambert's brother Matthew, 29, who works for the company, has now reached a bidding price of �227.

Miss Lambert, who is a Canaries season-ticket holder, said she hoped the team's fine form at the top of League One would also push up the price of the ball. All the money raised from the auction and from her London Marathon run this weekend will be donated to the Children With Leukaemia.

Miss Lambert, whose housemate was diagnosed with Stage 2a Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2008 before getting the all clear in 2009, has also recently completed a 370km cycle ride in India, raising more than �13,200 as part of a team of four for the Lymphoma Association, Children with Leukaemia, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Ovarian Cancer Action.

� The auction for the ball, which ends on April 25, can be found online at http://tinyurl.com/y4avzcj.

� To sponsor or donate, log on to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/hollylambert.

� Do you have a quirky story for the Evening News? Contact reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772419 or email kim.briscoe@archant.co.uk.