Rock legend Slash has donated a signed top hat to an auction raising funds for the dinosaurs of Crystal Palace Park.

The Guns n Roses guitarist, known for his distinctive head gear, revealed earlier this month the unique collection of life-size sculptures, built in 1854, have a "special place" in his heart.

Slash, real name Saul Hudson, tweeted a link to a campaign to build a permanent bridge to the dinosaurs, which are scattered across islands.

Now he has donated one of his iconic top hats to the cause, which fans can bid for in an online auction finishing December 16.

Announcing the donation, the Crystal Palace Dinos said: "Our coolest friend Slash has donated an autographed top hat to help us build the #DinoBridge.

"This is a unique item - not just a great piece of memorabilia, but an amazing way to support a charity close to Slash's heart."

Auctioning on ebay, the highest bid for the hat currently stands at £585. His hats have previously sold for as much as £5000. 

Slash is currently on tour, but plans to send a picture of himself with the item when he has a chance.

The campaign reached out to him after remembering an interview with Dermot O'Leary in 2014, when he mentioned visiting the dinosaurs as a child.

Slash spent the first five years of his life in London and Stoke, before moving to LA to achieve rock-god status.

Mr Hudson's love for reptiles is well documented. Often seen with a serpent round his neck, the guitarist revealed his fascination with the dinosaurs when speaking to Reptiles Magazine.

He said: "When I was young and lived in London, I think that one of the biggest thrills that I had was going to Crystal Palace.

"Crystal Palace is a big park, and it had huge, life-size sculptures of dinosaurs.

"The figures they had, though, were completely anatomically incorrect. I kept going there and looking at the sculptures and was very much into that."

The models were designed and sculpted by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins under the scientific direction of Sir Richard Owen, representing the latest scientific knowledge of the period.

To get your hands on the hat visit: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Signed-Top-Hat-from-Slash-Guns-N-Roses-GnR-Official-Donated-to-FCPD-by-Slash-/223280168779