THE director of a Melksham carpet shop is the lucky owner of a shirt signed by England players who lifted the rugby World Cup.

Kim Chalmers, of the Carpet Barn in Bank Street, won the priceless shirt in a pub raffle draw held after Jonny Wilkinson's drop-goal sealed the historic win on Saturday.

The 43-year-old rugby fan has given the shirt pride of place at his home in Abson, near Bristol.

He said: "Winning the shirt was the icing on the cake. You cannot individualise any of the signatures everybody in the team was outstanding."

Mr Chalmers watched England's 20-17 victory over Australia at a pub in Torquay with teammates from Chipp-ing Sodbury-based cricket club Putts Puffers.

To qualify for the draw he had to buy a pint of Tetley's bitter, the official sponsor of the World Cup-winning squad.

A spokesman for London-based auction house Christies said the shirt was already worth £350 to £450.

Mr Chalmers said: "It was an absolutely brilliant game and I couldn't believe it when my name was called out.

"The match had a fairy tale finish when Jonny made that kick 30 seconds from the end."

Mr Chalmers, who has been the director of the Carpet Barn for four years, used to play rugby for East Anglia and for the South of England.

Thousands of jubilant fans across west Wiltshire celebrated England's win.