WORLD Cup fever is gripping the nation - but its a former player getting West Oxfordshire schoolchildren enthralled by the game.

Former England captain David Beckham has donated a signed football shirt to Great Tew Primary School to help raise funds for what is now his local primary school.

The famous footballer and his celebrity family bought and renovated a house in Duns Tew last year for £6m.

But the celeb has not been shy in making friends in the community after agreeing to donate to the small primary school.

It comes as part of a summer fete fundraiser parents at the school stage every year in the face on continuous cuts.

Mum-of-three Lucy Rigg, who is part of the organising team, said: "David Beckham lives fairly close now and has always been a big local supporter.

"I approached him through a mutual friend and he was really happy to support the village and said he would help in anyway that he could which is nice.

"Although I wasn't surprised as he is part of the local community.

"It is great for the school and with council cuts we want to raise as much money as possible so being a big name is great."

The local celebrity donated a signed Manchester United football shirt - the club where he made his name in the late 1990s before he moved on to Real Madrid in 2003.

The shirt comes with a letter of authentication alongside the words 'Love David Beckham' written on the front of the shirt.

It is a part of a live auction which is already online and will run up to the day of the Great Tew School fete on Saturday, June 30.

For more details on the auction and fete see 32auctions.com/greattewschool2018