BORIS Johnson, David Cameron and Simon Cowell are just a few of the big names to have donated items to help raise funds for the Stroud-based Door Youth Project.

The Christian charity, which helps disaffected young people between the ages of 11 and 25, is running a Great Celebrity Auction to help raise funds for its work.

TV duo Ant and Dec, Vicar of Dibley actress Dawn French, Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rogers and Stroud author Jilly Cooper are among the other famous names who have donated items, like signed books and photos, for the fundraising initiative.

Sports teams, such as Everton FC and Gloucester Rugby Club, have also put forward items for the auction, with the former donating a football pennant signed by the players and the latter a shirt bearing the signatures of team members.

All the items will be auctioned off over the next 6 months from a brand new website set-up by the Stroud charity: www.greatcelebrityauction.co.uk

The first item going under the hammer will be a signed photo of Simon Cowell, which will be available from January 26 until February 5 at 7pm.

Harry Gardner, apprentice fundraiser at the Door, said: “The Great Celebrity Auction is going to be big. We have some fantastic items up for grabs, whether you are a Gloucester rugby fan or a lover of Diversity.’’

Brendan Conboy, the charity’s chief executive, said: “On a weekly basis we hear young people say if it wasn’t for The Door Youth Project, I would not be here today.”

“I want to say a massive thank you to the great celebrities and general public that support us.”