A FORMER Pershore man is urging residents to bid for a special poster and football from Manchester United's clash with Danish team Vejle in 1987 to aid the tsunami disaster.

Ex-pat Colin Shearer, who now lives in Vejle, is hoping to raise money for the thousands of victims in south-east Asia.

"From the age of two, up until I was about 22, I lived in Pershore. I went to Pershore Secondary Modern School which is now called Pershore High School," he said.

"Then I moved to Denmark and in 1987 I saw Manchester United play a pre-season friendly against Vejle in connection with the selling of John Sivebk to United in 1985.

"I got a poster advertising the game from my local newsagents where I regularly bought the Sunday papers from England.

"After the tsunami disaster I thought I could help by having the poster reproduced."

Mr Shearer is now selling the copies for $100, about £53, and the first copy is being auctioned by the auction house Lauritz.com.

"All the copies have been individually signed by the Vejle players who played in the game, plus the referee and linesmen," he added.

"While the posters were being signed one of the players, Carsten Pedersen, asked me if I would be interested in a football which he had taken to the match and got signed by all the players - Vejle and Manchester United - to auction together with the poster. My answer was, of course, yes.

"It would be really nice if the people of Pershore could rally round and secure the poster or football, so that it can be displayed in the local sports hall."

Anyone interested in buying one of the posters or bidding for the ball should e-mail maja.odense@ lauritz.com