Chinese fans bid big for Beckham sweat at charity auction

Chinese fans of David Beckham have paid hundreds of pounds for a bathrobe, a pillow case and bedding used by the footballer during Real Madrid's weekend visit to Beijing.

An auctioneer described them as "still bearing the stink of Beckham's sweat," the Beijing Morning Post said.

A charity auction of items used by Beckham and his Real Madrid teammates has raised £14,000.

Proceeds are to go to children of medical workers who died in China's fight against SARS.

Real Madrid beat an all-star Chinese team 4-0 in an exhibition match on Saturday at the start of an Asian promotional tour.

The bathrobe and other items used by Beckham went for 2,800 yuan (around £250) at the auction, just hours after the team left for Tokyo.

The top price paid was for a soccer ball signed by Beckham, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and a dozen other Real Madrid stars, which went for 21,000 yuan (around £1,800), the Morning Post said.

Also on the block were autographed posters of the British idol, signed jerseys and the chance to spend the night in hotel rooms used by the team.

The game was the first major international sports event in China since the SARS outbreak.