A FAMILY of devoted Liverpool fans were the highest bidders after a signed reds shirt went up for auction near Chirk recently.

Avid supporters Claire, Jay and Fin Morris claimed the shirt which was signed by the players after last year’s champions league final when Liverpool lost to Real Madrid.

Claire’s husband was in Madrid for this year’s final which saw Liverpool take on Tottenham, with the reds coming out on top this time.

Unbeknown to him, his wife and his boys, had won the shirt as a surprise for him on his return from the final.

This shirt was acquired as a fundraiser for the Ifton Colliery Commemorative Project and was handed to the Morris family at the Glyn Wilfa Café in Chirk by one of the café’s directors, Brian Colley.

Terry Ellis who put the signed shirt up for auction said: “It was a ‘real pleasure to see the excitement on Fin’s and Jay’s faces’ after handing the shirt over.”

Claire added: “We’ll be getting this framed along with the tickets and programme from the Madrid game.”

The Ifton Colliery Commemorative Project is almost complete, with Westminster Stone donating some black granite setts to pave around the statue of the miner in St Martin.

Those behind the project also intend to add floodlights and cover it with CCTV.

The group is still looking for funding to cover the cost of the CCTV – anyone wishing to donate can contact Sue Schofield on 01691 777710 or email suescho@hotmail.co.uk