THERE can't be many people who can say their shoes have had a divine shine.

And even fewer who can boast that a girls' choir does their shopping for them.

But this Sunday a bidding war will break out at Blackburn Cathedral to ensure that someone will have just that.

As part of the Blackburn with Darwen Afghanistan Appeal -- to raise money for the work done by Save the Children -- the cathedral will be hosting an 'Auction of Talents' where around 50 lots will be up for grabs.

And rather than electrical goods or signed footballs, the lots on offer are altogether more unusual.

Items to come under the hammer include a dinner date with Bishop of Blackburn, the Rev Alan Chesters; a ride in a Porsche and the offer of having your shopping done by members of the Cathedral's girls' choir. There's even the offer of having your hair spiked like Pop Idol Gareth Gates.

But the item most likely to spark a bidding frenzy is the promise of having you and your family's shoes personally shined by the Dean of Blackburn, the Very Rev Christopher Armstrong.

And so determined is he to raise as much cash as possible, Mr Armstrong has even pledged to extend his offer to the highest bidder's friends.

Mr Armstrong said shining shoes was a good way to communicate with people. He said: "You can do a lot of talking cleaning shoes. There's a lot you can learn about people from their footwear."

The auction takes place at the Cathedral Crypt after Eucharist on Sunday and Mr Armstrong said anyone was welcome.