IT was the result the whole of England had prayed for and it was celebrated in pubs, homes and offices across Wiltshire.

A Friday afternoon became silent as people craved a view of the big match. And when Beckham's penalty hit the back of the net there was an explosion of overwhelming joy and relief.

The Litten Tree was one of Swindon's town centre pubs to screen the match on big screens, with around 400 fans crammed into the Fleet Street pub. Many had queued in the pouring rain since 9.30am to ensure they had the ideal spot to watch the game.

Fans of all ages, many wearing England shirts and draped in St George's flags, sang their way throughout the game at an ear piercing level.

Landlord Adam Edwards, 32, said: "This has been one of the busiest days the pub has known. It's just a shame we could only let in 400.

Minutes before half time David Beckham's penalty kick sent fans in the pub into a state of delirium, scenes matched at the end of an agonising second half in which England soaked up late pressure.

Swindon-based building society Nationwide, which sponsors the England team, mounted giant screens in the atrium area of its Croft Campus HQ so its employees could watch the game.

The result meant staff at Swindon's Samaritans were able to rest easy. The charity had been put on standby nationally because of the detrimental effect England's sudden exit might have on people who might already be suffering from depression.

Catherine, a volunteer with the Swindon Samaritans for 20 years, said: "We never really know when or how many people are going to call, but the wrong result in the football just could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

"It could be that nothing is going right in someone's life and if their football team looses it could spark everything off. Often it's the last and most minor thing that triggers off depression if it has been there for a long time."

See the Evening Advertiser (June 7, second edition) for full coverage and more commentary from local football fans.