JCB had been staging an online auction over the past two weeks as part of a Christmas fundraising initiative in support of Help for Heroes, the charity supporting wounded servicemen and women.

Fork Rent’s managing director, Guy Nicholls said: “It’s such a distinctive machine and very fitting that JCB auctioned it to raise money for Help for Heroes.

“We’ve got on our thinking caps on today at Fork Rent to come up with more ideas how it might be used again to raise even more funds for Help for Heroes, such as a John O’Groats to Lands End road trip maybe.”

Yvette Henshall-Bell, UK and Ireland Sales Director at JCB said:  “It was clear from the bidding during the past two weeks that Fork Rent was keen to have the Union Jack 3CX Eco backhoe loader.”

Bryn Parry, CEO & co-founder, Help for Heroes, said: “The money raised will provide much needed funds to help our wounded heroes on their road to recovery, and if Fork Rent is able to use the Union Jack digger to raise even more money for H4H, that would be just fantastic.”

A group of wounded soldiers joined teams from JCB and Help for Heroes, and over 100 representatives from the British construction industry, for the official launch of the auction on London’s South Bank.

A festively decked out barge carrying the Union Jack JCB 3CX Eco Backhoe Loader was moored on the Thames until the auction concluded on 21^st of December, sporting a banner inviting the general public to do their bit by donating by text message to support wounded troops and their families over Christmas.

The unique Union Jack JCB 3CX Eco backhoe loader was created as part of the recent launch of the company’s new range of ‘Eco’ machines.  This particular model is 16% more-fuel efficient than its predecessor and saves JCB’s customers over £3,500 in fuel costs over a three-year operating cycle.