HE may be in demand in foreign footballing circles, but David Beckham has been given the red card by punters at a Darwen pub.

Regulars of the Golden Cup Inn have given 'Golden Balls' the boot - by declaring the word 'Beckham' a swear word.

Landlady Maria Hallam, said: "We're sick of hearing his name everywhere we go and so we decided to start a swear box so people would have to pay 10p everytime they mentioned his name."

The England captain has had thousands of inches of column space in newspapers, hours of radio airplay and days of television coverage over his £25million transfer to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Maria, who has been landlady for the past six months, said: "Everyone in the pub was talking about him and it was getting unbearable so we decided to do something about it.

"When someone mentions that name, they have to put money into a pint glass on the bar which will go to charity."

The scheme was launched even though Maria is a lifelong fan of Preston North End -- the club Beckham played for a month while on loan at the start of his Manchester United career.

The idea, which has been up and running for two weeks in the Blackburn Road pub, was pioneered by a Blackburn Rovers fan, landlord Paul Mercer together with a fellow customer.

He said: "It's actually a very popular box and I think it is more popular than a real swear box. I'm a Blackburn fan so it suits me down to the ground not hearing his name."

Beckham will complete the move to Madrid, along with wife Victoria and children Brooklyn and Romeo next month and join the likes of Raul, French striker Zinedine Zidane and Brazilian hero Ronaldo.

But for now, the Darwen pub is content to keep the drinking hole a Beckham-free zone.

Maria said: "I suspect when it all dies down it won't be so bad but I'm sure there will be just as much publicity when he goes to Spain."

Steve Bee, 39, from the Oakdale Estate off Bolton Road, said: "It's a really good laugh. Luckily I'm not a football fan so I haven't been caught out. I come in here everyday and it's always making people laugh."

James Hughes, 47, from Oakdale Estate, said: "I'm a Manchester United fan and I think Beckham's one of the best players in the world. Needless to say I've had to pay about a fiver to the swear box."

Chris Baldwin, 39, who lives in the Earcroft area, said: "I support Blackburn so I think the Rovers fans would always support something like this. I think it's a really good idea to raise money for charity."

Pub-goers have so far raised £30 for St Catherine's Hospice, Lostock Hall, near Preston, which aims to provide around terminally ill people across the region with the necessary care.

John Nickson, hospice appeals manager, said: "We receive a lot of donations from pubs and we are very grateful for what the Darwen pub is doing. We heartily agree with the Beckham ban but we wonder why Posh Spice hasn't been included as well."