THE controversial Millennium Stadium pitch which was laid by a North Yorkshire firm and slammed for the way it deteriorated during an international rugby match is being sold off for charity.

The owners of the Cardiff stadium have brought in Dutch grass to completely re-lay the stadium turf and are selling the grass laid and provided by Wilberfoss firm Inturf.

The company, the contractor responsible for the pitch, was suspended by the stadium in the aftermath of Wales's 11-9 victory over England in the RBS Six Nations.

Stadium manager Paul Sergeant claimed the pitch was "embarrassing" and called in a team of consultants.

Now the stadium is raising cash for the Toby Lloyd Cockbain Foundation by selling the turf at £20 and £10 a piece.

The surface for the Liverpool vs Chelsea Carling Cup Final on Sunday will be completely new following an assessment.

Mr Sergeant said: "The old pitch will be out by Wednesday and the new surface will be laid by the end of play on Friday.

"We have a big job to do in a short space of time, but we will have a pristine surface for the Carling Cup final."

Inturf today said it was still consulting its lawyers over its suspension, but said it had been cheered by support from "prestigious sporting organisations".

Alex Edwards, joint boss of Inturf said: "I am pleased to see that our turf is being used for a charitable cause. They seemed to be charging a lot more than they paid for it. We sell turf at about £12 per square metre.

"It is difficult for me to say a lot about this, but we would have been happy to donate the turf to the same charity. There are a few implications you might read into that."

Meanwhile, he said, he had received messages of support from high profile and prestigious sporting organisations.

"I am not going to say who they were, but sporting clubs as well as well-known figures in the sports turf industry have called to give us their moral support."

He said that in spite of the controversy at the Millennium Stadium, his business was riding the crest of a wave.

"The rest of the business is increasing, we are opening new markets, investing in new machinery and preparing to celebrate our 20th anniversary in May as probably one of the best-known sports turf producers in Europe."

Updated: 10:14 Monday, February 21, 2005