A CHRIST CHURCH-based agent has footballing legend Pele on his books after signing up the exclusive rights to his signature.

Terry Baker, who runs A1 Sporting Speakers and the subsidiary company A1 Sporting Memorabilia, paid a seven figure fee to complete a four-year deal with the world's best-known striker.

But the huge demand for shirts and memorabilia signed by the three-times World Cup winner persuaded him it was worth paying out.

Mr Baker said: "We're just a small company in Christchurch so this is a huge coup for us.

"This deal means that anyone who wants signed shirts, pictures or anything else will have to come to us.

"We meet him three times a year to do signing sessions with him and then we have the worldwide distribution rights. There are so many fakes in the marketplace and he has done signing sessions with other people who have ripped him off."

He added: "The other benefit from us doing it is that although we sell the merchandise commercially, it makes an absolute fortune for charities worldwide.

"For the money we're spending, there's probably a million pounds a year for charity there."

Mr Baker said: "He's brilliant to deal with, absolutely smashing. He's just a normal person although he lives a completely abnormal life.

"As a huge football fan, I never thought I would be kissing Pele goodbye three times a year!"