Chris Martin Donated Jacket for Darfur Fundraiser

The black leather jacket worn by Coldplay singer Chris Martin during the band's Rush of Blood to the Head tour to help raise money for people suffering in Chad and the troubled Darfur region of Sudan.

Sir Elton John has handed over his tailor-made Donatella Versace suit which he wore to his white tie and tiara ball while Dame Helen Mirren has parted with her script for the Oscar-winning film The Queen.

Explaining his support of the auction, Sir Elton said: "Try to imagine living in a tiny shelter made out of straw, dry branches and plastic sheeting with the sun baking down on you at 45 degrees. For most of us that's beyond imagination.

"I'm delighted to donate this suit that was custom made by Donatella Versace for me to wear to the white tie and tiara ball in 2000 and hope it raises lots of cash for the people of Darfur who have already suffered too much."

The ten-day auction began yesterday on Oxfam's ebay website.