AS GARETH Gates mania sweeps Barry, a town centre shop has been inundated with requests for the nearly life-sized cardboard cut-out of the Pop Idol runner-up.

So to deal with the demand, Woolworths on Holton Road are holding an auction to raise money for charity, making the decision a fair one.

Last week the store were sent two promotional pictures of this year's newest teen craze, along with the hundreds of copies of Gareth's Unchained Melody to keep up with demand.

But CDs of the popular song were not all customers were asking for. Within the first day of the cardboard cutout coming into the store, the staff were fighting off people asking if they could take Gareth home when the shop had finished the promotion.

Sam Farr works on the Entertainments Bar.

She said: "I had at least ten people ask me for Gareth on the first day. So far, we've had over 30 requests in-store, and loads of letters."

On the day the single was released, Monday March 18, a group of girls stormed a North London Woolworths branch and attempted to steal the promotional pieces.

Luckily, Barry shoppers have been far better behaved. Both pieces have remained unmolested, and the auction will be opened by the News' very own Sue Vincent-Jones on Saturday April 6 at 4pm in the Woolworth store.

Both the cut-out display case and the black-and-white photograph of the CD cover will be sold separately to raise money for Ty Hafan and Maes y Dyfan.

And the highest bidder walks away the proud possessor of Gareth Gates. There is no need to register if you want to take part in the auction. Just turn up on the day with a generous frame of mind and full pockets.