Signed sporting shirts and balls will be up for grabs at an auction held during the Colchester Trinity Rotary Club's 5th Sportsmen's Dinner.

And organisers hope the event will raise at least £3,000 for Colchester charities including the Samaritans.

Items up for auction include a shirt signed by the Australian rugby union World Cup-winning team, David Beckham's signed England number seven shirt plus shirts and balls from Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea.

Non-sporting items include a Chinese dressing table mirror donated by Princess Alexandra, boxes for shows at the Royal Albert Hall and a P&O return trip to France.

Organiser Graham Thornton said: "The list of items to auction just keeps growing so we are becoming more and more confident of reaching our fund-raising target."

The auction will take place next Friday during the event at the Colne Valley Golf and Country Club but bids from people who are not able to attend are welcome.

For full details or to make a bid contact Graham Thornton on 01206 250777 or Ian Dewis on 01206 240996.

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