RADIO fans have been given the chance to bid for an artistic envelope designed by Bolton DJ Mark Radcliffe.

The former Bolton School pupil has shown his creative side, along with a number of other celebrities, to raise money for the National Literacy Trust.

Mark's contribution, which will be sold on auction site eBay, is a collage made up of a map, a photograph of himself and a picture of singer Nick Drake.

The images are surrounded by short passages of prose from the former Radio 1 DJ, who now has his own show on Radio 2.

In the auction's description of the envelope, the cryptic images and messages are described as "adding to the air of mystery and romance" surrounding the artwork.

It is hoped that the auction, which more than 40 celebrities have contributed to, will help to raise thousands of pounds for the trust, which aims to improve reading and writing across all age groups.

Other stars involved in the charity event include Olympic champion rower Sir Steve Redgrave, actress Kate Winslet, actor Robbie Coltrane, boxer Sir Henry Cooper, Riverdance star Michael Flatley, and hurdler and TV presenter Colin Jackson.

The event, which goes live on the Internet today and runs until October 7, has been organised by mail communications giant Pitney Bowes, on behalf of the National Literacy Trust.

Richard Sved, head of fund raising at the trust, said: "We are delighted by the response.

"The celebrities involved seem to have been inspired by the task, and the envelopes we have seen to date are stunning."