A SHIRT touched by genius could be the ultimate World Cup prize for a lucky Evening Advertiser reader.

England captain David Beckham signed our England shirt shortly after scoring the wonder goal against Greece that took England to the World Cup.

The shirt, also signed by Michael Owen and the rest of the England squad, has already helped make thousands of pounds for two local charities, the Prospect Hospice and homelessness charity Thresh-old Housing Link.

The Adver successfully bid for it at the annual Marriott Charity Ball which raised almost £42,000 for the two good causes.

And we are now auctioning the shirt, which comes with its own frame and a certificate of authenticity, in aid of our own Swindon Disease Memor-ial Appeal.

The appeal needs to raise £10,000 to set up a garden in Queen's Park in memory of the victims of mesothelioma known locally as the Swindon Disease.

Mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer, has killed hundreds of local people, many of them employees of the railway works that first made Swindon great.

The Swindon Disease appeal is just £2,000 short of its target, so whoever offers most for the shirt will be doing others as well as themselves a big favour.

Evening Advertiser promotions manager Sheryl Crouch said: "The shirt has already worked hard for good causes at the Marriott Ball and now we hope a prize as attractive as this will net a second significant sum in memory of those who died from this terrible disease."

Bids for the shirt can be made either online or by post. Online bidders should log onto www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk for details. Postal bids should be addressed to: Sheryl Crouch, Promotions Manager, Evening Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE.