Bidding hits £8,000 as offers pour in for teapot autographed by One Direction

The teapot, one of several signed by celebrities for the Yorkshire Tea auction, has already attracted 61 bids after group member Louis Tomlinson posted it on his Twitter feed.

He Tweeted “Who wants a signed @yorkshiretea pot. All the money goes to charity so bid big :)” before posting a link to the site.

The company even flew the pot to the States while the boys were on tour so they could add their signatures to it in time for the auction.

Celebrity lovers of the tea brand have put their names to tea cups, mugs and teapots for the charity auction but none have attracted quite the same level of interest as the boy-band pot.

All proceeds from the auction, due to run until July 7, will go to the Wallace and Gromit Children’s Foundation to fund its work with sick children in hospitals and hospices throughout the UK.

Dom Dwight, of Yorkshire Tea, said: “We’re always flattered to hear about how much our fans love Yorkshire Tea, famous or not, but we love the idea that we can bring our famous friends and their fans closer together through their love of tea, while helping out a fantastic charity.

“The signed One Direction teapot was even flown to the States for the boys to autograph while they were away on tour before being carefully couriered back to the UK in time for the auction.”

The Wallace and Gromit’s Children’s Foundation’s head of fundraising, Marie Storey, added: “This is a cracking auction which will really help to change the lives of sick children in hospitals and hospices across the UK. We’re so grateful to Yorkshire Tea for all their support and hope everyone enjoys taking part.”

Fans can bid on items at http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/taylors_of_harrogate/