A Chelsea and England footballer has donated a signed shirt to a Christmas raffle being held by a Tadworth charity for children with autism.

Frank Lampard is showing his support for the Friends of Papillon House School Charity (FOPHS), based in Pebble Close, in Tadworth, which supports a specialist school of the same name, for children with autism.

Lampard has signed and donated the Chelsea football shirt to the charity’s Christmas raffle and Chelsea FC has also donated a Chelsea Soccer School Place as a prize.

Other prizes will include a signed shirt from the Crystal Palace Football Club players, afternoon tea with champagne for two at the London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, and an overnight stay at a top London hotel.

Funds raised from the raffle will go towards the school’s Life Skills project to help provide equipment for the children to enhance their life skills, to develop their self-esteem and improve their confidence for approaching adulthood.

Emma Packham, chairwoman for FOPHS and a dedicated Chelsea fan, said: "We are extremely grateful to Frank Lampard for donating such a fabulous prize for our Christmas raffle.

"It is certainly helping ticket sales this year.  We are aiming to sell 3,000 tickets and have many fantastic prizes available.

"Children with autism are often very bright individuals but have difficulty developing life skills, communicating and interacting with others. 

"The Life Skills project will enable them to develop these vital skills for life."

The raffle draw will take place at the Papillon House School Christmas Fair on December 7, from 12pm to 3pm at Pebble Close, Tadworth.

To order raffle tickets and for more information email jackiehughes@live.co.uk or call 07736 030316.