LONDON:

The stunning off-the-shoulder dress worn by British film star Keira Knightley at this year’s Academy Awards was auctioned on the Internet on May 1 to help drought victims in East Africa.

A bidder from Chicago won the deep-claret Vera Wang taffeta silk gown with a bid of $7,860.

“It’s brilliant that this dress has raised this much,” Knightley said. “I know it will go a long way to help people facing this food crisis in East Africa.”

An estimated 11 million people are facing starvation in a drought. The proceeds of the auction will provide enough food to feed 5,000 children for a month in Tanzania.