A SPORTING legend who more than made his mark in the Faithful City in the late 1980s will be visiting Worcester next week.

Ian Botham, the former England and Worcestershire cricketer, is visiting Hammicks bookshop, in The Shambles, this coming Monday, May 27.

Botham, one of the game's greatest all-rounders and one of the best- known sporting celebrities of the latter part of the 20th Century, is promoting his book, Botham's Century, released last year but is now out in paperback.

"We wrote to his publishers and pleaded with them to get him to come to us," said shop manager Will Williams.

"It's fantastic that he's coming - we're really pleased."

"Beefy" as he is known, spent five years at New Road during a memorable era for Worcestershire, in which the club won the county championship twice, the Sunday league twice, and the Benson and Hedges Cup.

The inspirational player started his career at Somerset and moved to Worcestershire in 1986, staying until 1991 when he went to finish his career at Durham.

Since his glorious playing days finished, the 46-year-old has raised huge amounts of money for charity, including £5m for leukaemia research, by doing long distance walks.

His contribution to the country was recognised in 1992 when he was awarded the OBE. Botham will be signing copies of his book at Hammicks between 1pm and 2pm.