Armchair football managers looking forward to this year's European Championships will be able to put their money where their mouths are to raise money for charity.

Workers from Royal Mail's community action team in York are organising a tipster competition with top prizes on offer to people who can accurately predict - or guess - the results of matches.

Money raised will go towards the team's chosen charities for the year - the Cancer Research Campaign, the NSPCC and the RSPCA.

"The success of a similar competition during the last World Cup showed that this is a fun way to win prizes and raise money for three worthy causes at the same time," said organiser and Royal Mail manager Alan Harris.

"And the great thing is that you don't need to be a football fan to do it."

To take part, all you need to do is take a stab at the outcomes of 24 group games and a computer at Royal Mail keeps track of the results.

"We ran a similar competition a couple of years back for the World Cup but just within the Royal Mail in the York area and raised more than £700," said Mr Harris.

"We were amazed at how much interest was generated and plan on taking the competition nationwide, so we are hoping to raise a substantial amount of money this year."

A meeting with charity representatives reassured the organisers they were on to a good idea.

"They had pound signs in their eyes when we told them what we wanted to do," he said.

Mr Harris and his colleagues are hoping to win support from celebrities and football clubs for the tipster competition.

They have contacted every football club in the land in the hope of securing match tickets and signed shirts as prizes.

"The more cash and prizes that come in, the more will go to charity," said Mr Harris.

The organisers are appealing for companies to donate prizes for the competition. If you can help, contact the community action team courtesy of Ops Programme Team, 4 Leeman Road, York, YO26 4ZZ or e-mail: alan.harris@royalmail.co.uk

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