Formula 1 stars sign up to help bereaved children.

Formula 1 stars, including three world champions, have come together in the name of helping bereaved children. In a unique feat, organised by Bridgestone Motorsport which supplies tyres to Formula 1, 12 of the world's top drivers have signed-up to a charity run by traffic officers from Thames Valley Police.

At races around the world during the 2001 F1 season, the drivers autographed a Bridgestone t-shirt which will be auctioned to raise money for Taplow Traffic Charity Trust, based not far from Bridgestone Motorsport's headquarters at Langley, Berkshire. The shirt will be sold to the highest bidder in an on-line auction.

The charity was set up in 1997 by traffic police officers based at Taplow, Berkshire and raises money to send children who have lost close relatives - parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters - in road accidents on special holidays to Disneyland Paris.

Police Constable Martin Harper, of Taplow Traffic Charity Trust, explained: "While a holiday can never make up for losing your mum or dad or another close relative, it can help bring a little happiness. It's a chance for families to have a break, relax together and hopefully try to find a way to move on."

Inspector Steve Thwaites, who is also involved, added: "Eventually we would like every police traffic office in the country to have their own version of the Trust. Every day ten people die on our roads. That means that every day children lose parents, grandparents and siblings."

So far three trips have taken place, and about 60 children aged from 18 months to 18 years have been helped. By raising at least ?8,000 a year, the charity can also allow for a surviving parent or carer of each child to accompany them.

It is hoped that auctioning the shirt will raise thousands of pounds for the charity. The drivers who have signed it are: four-time world champion Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello; double world champion Mika Hakkinen and Scottish driver David Coulthard; Jarno Trulli, who drove for Jordan Honda in 2001, and his former teammate Heinz-Harald Frentzen; 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve and his teammate at BAR Honda, Olivier Panis; 2001 Sauber Petronas drivers Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Raikkonen of Sauber Petronas; and Jos Verstappen and Enrique Bernoldi from OrangeArrows.

Bridgestone Motorsport Press Officer Sarah French said: "I can guarantee the authenticity of the signatures - since the start of the 2001 Formula 1 season in Australia in March, I carried the t-shirt around the world, collecting autographs among all 12 drivers who raced on Bridgestone tyres last season."

"Of course, this would not have been possible without the support of our teams and their drivers and Bridgestone wishes to thank them all for their help. No one hesitated in giving their support. We're delighted that Bridgestone has been able to help the charity in this way because, as a manufacturer of pasenger car tyres as well as tyres for Formula 1, road safety is our priority."

"Now we hope that since the drivers have given their support so generously that people will be equally generous in their bids. The more money that this unique t-shirt raises, the more children who have lost loved ones will benefit."

Bids for the t-shirt may be placed at www.ttcharitytrust.org.uk by clicking on 'contact us'. The closing date for bids is Monday, December 31, 2001.

At noon on this date, the t-shirt will be sold to the highest bidder. Regular updates on the latest highest bid will be posted on the website. If the highest bidder wishes to pay by personal cheque, this must have cleared before the t-shirt will be handed over.