Lara Croft's costume up for grabs

The original costume of video game heroine Lara Croft, is to be auctioned online for the UNICEF children's charity.

The outfit includes Ms Croft's distinctive green rubber all-in-one vest and military-style shorts plus twin Smith and Wesson automatic replica pistols and leather holsters.

The ensemble was worn by Nell McAndrew - who modelled the Lara Croft character from 1998 to 1999 - and also includes round sunglasses, leather gloves, socks and a belt.

According to game maker Eidos, the all-in-one vest was so tight it was put on by sprinkling talcum powder onto Ms McAndrew's skin before "carefully moving the latex top very slowly over the body".

And to keep the 34DD top looking in tip-top condition it was also sprayed with silicon before each appearance.

Ms McAndrew wore the outfit more than 40 times during a tour which took in such hotspots as Australia, New York and Los Angeles.

It's not known whether the garments will have been laundered prior to the auction, which takes place on eBay.co.uk from April 26. ®