TWINS Matthew and Daniel Bryan-Smith put on their football booties to help launch a World Cup penalty shoot-out competition to raise vital funds for York's special care baby unit.

The 18-month-old boys, of Heworth, York, spent the first five weeks of their lives at the unit after they were born nine weeks prematurely.

They both weighed in at just over 3lb each, but are now so fit and healthy that they were able to kick off the competition at Dixon Nissan at Clifton Moorgate, York, together with pupils from Hob Moor Junior School.

The company's football-mad service advisor, Mike Haddock, decided to do something to tie in with the World Cup. He wanted an idea that could be fun and benefit the local community as well.

Now visitors to the dealership will be encouraged to 'bend it like Beckham' and score a goal against him, for only £1 a try.

All money raised will go to the unit at York District Hospital and everyone taking part will be entered into a prize draw at the end of the World Cup to win anything from a food hamper to a football and even a kit from York City FC.

Mr Haddock, a trained football coach, said: "As everyone goes crazy at World Cup time, we decided to indulge the football fanatics by creating a special shoot-out area. It will be a great way to have fun and raise money for a worthwhile cause at the same time, and I can't wait to get into goal."

The twins' mum, Nicky Bryan-Smith, welcomed the fundraising campaign. She said: "We were very grateful to the hospital staff, it's a lovely unit and we were well looked after.

"We want to continue to support them as much as we can."

The penalty shoot-out game will be available to customers from May 31 - the official start of the World Cup - and will last until the end of June.

Updated: 11:11 Tuesday, May 28, 2002