TWO pieces of hallowed turf from Wembley Stadium are to be auctioned off by York charities.

York MP Hugh Bayley secured the pieces for York Shopmobility and York Mencap after writing to Wembley Stadium.

The charities will organise how the turf is to be auctioned off, and the pieces will then be delivered to the winners direct from Wembley in the autumn.

Mr Bayley said: "I think both of these charities do a tremendous job."

He said details of how people could bid for the turf would be released by the charities in due course.

The stadium, the home of English football since the early part of the last century, is set to be razed to the ground, with a new complex being built in its place.

All that will remain is the stadium's legendary twin towers, which are to be relocated to a new home - possibly on Merseyside.

The process of selling off Wembley's turf was kicked off in May by 1966 England World Cup legend Geoff Hurst, who cut out the slice of ground where the ball bounced to give him his controversial third goal against West Germany.