Signed One Direction shirt auctioned for Alzheimer's charity

Popular boy band One Direction have donated a signed t-shirt that is currently being auctioned to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society.

The former X Factor contestants have chosen to support the charity because band member Louis Tomlinson has first-hand experience of dementia. His girlfriend's grandfather was recently diagnosed with the condition.

All five members of the band have signed the t-shirt and it is currently attracting bids on online auction site eBay.

The auction ends today (December 20th) in order to ensure that it can be posted out to the winning bidder in time for Christmas.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Alzheimer's Society, said: "Money raised from the auction will help people live well with dementia and fund research to find a cure."

Mr Hughes also said that he believes the backing that the charity has received from One Direction will help to bring dementia to the attention of a much wider audience and will raise awareness of the condition.