WITH just a couple of days to go before England's big kick-off against Paraguay, World Cup fever is sweeping through Bromsgrove and surrounding areas.

Residents, landlords and shopkeepers around the town have thrown their support behind Beckham and the team by decking out their properties with the red cross of St George with flags and bunting.

David and Sheila Alder are among those gearing up for the festival of football which begins in Germany on Friday, decorating the front of their house in Perryfields Crescent with England flags.

Sheila's sister, Jane Rush, who lives in York Road, also went World Cup crazy, painting a St George's cross on her garage door and displaying pictures of England striker Michael Owen in the windows.

"We seem to do it every two years now when there is a tournament," said Sheila. "We put a flag out a few years ago, and every time we went shopping we somehow just kept adding to it.

She added: "It took us three days to paint my sister's garage door!"

NewSong Community Church in Broad Street, Sidemoor, will be showing all of England's matches on a big screen, free of charge, starting with the Paraguay game this Saturday, when there will also be a bouncy castle, barbecue face painting and children's games from 12pm.

Proceeds raised from the event will go to NewSong's Ukrainian children's appeal fund.