HAMPSHIRE’S Niall Holden saved Chris Evans’ bacon when the breakfast DJ urgently needed to get his hands on a car for his recent Famous Five Children in Need event.

The broadcaster auctioned off the chance to drive some of the country’s most exclusive classic cars at last November’s monster national fundraiser, boosting the total raised for deprived youngsters by a stonking £1m.

When one vehicle suddenly dropped out of the late June event at short notice, Chris texted fellow car nut Niall to ask if he could use his 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 – once owned by guitarist Eric Clapton – instead.

“I was really happy to help out,” said Niall, who owns cable firm VDC Trading.

“What could be more important than raising money for a children’s charity?

“I did ask him not to scratch it though.”

Self-confessed petrol-head Niall, 53, started up VDC Trading 26 years ago.

The firm’s flagship Van Damme brand of high-quality audio visual and music cabling is used at the Glastonbury festival, Abbey Road music studios, all Coldplay concerts, and was especially installed for the London Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.