STAFF at communications company ntl gave the British Lions rugby team an unusual good luck message as they prepared for their summer tour of Australia.

The company, which is sponsoring the tour, is asking its staff in 25 offices nationwide to sign a giant T-shirt which will be sent to the team to wish them luck.

On Friday, it arrived in Stockton, where staff added their names to thousands already collected.

Peter Wilcock, regional sales director, said: "The giant shirt tour is an excellent way of involving our 2,000 employees on Teesside in the Lions' tour sponsorship.

"We were delighted to welcome the shirt to Stockton and to add our signatures and good luck messages to it.

"The Lions' tour to Australia is sure to be one of this summer's most exciting sporting events and we are proud to be associated with such a prestigious event."

By signing the shirt, the staff at Stockton were entered in a prize draw with the chance to hand over the good luck gift to the team in May.