LOVE it or hate it, it's hard to avoid the hype surrounding the World Cup.

And football fever kicks off in Swansea Bay next week when the Evening Post launches its Dream Final 2010 Ultimate Sticker Collection.

The stickers are restickable, cut-out, full-body action shots of some of the greatest players in the world.

The 16-week promotion starts on Tuesday when anyone who buys the paper from a participating retailers will receive the first two stickers absolutely free.

They will feature Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Spanish star striker Fernando Torres.

For the next 15 weeks you can cut out the coupon that appears every Tuesday in the Evening Post and take it to any of the participating newsagents to receive a packet of three stickers for only £1.99.

On Tuesday, March 30, we will also give away a free pitch-shaped, one metre-wide, A0-size wallchart when you buy the second packet of stickers for £1.99.

There are 47 stickers to collect altogether — two squads of 23 players and a referee.

Big name players to collect will include England stars Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, John Terry and Frenchman Thierry Henry.

Evening Post field sales manager Andrea Vecchi said the stickers are likely to prove popular with football fans of all ages.

"I think children in particular will love it, they all love stickers," she said.

"They'll be able to map out their dream team on their very own football pitch and get involved in the hype surrounding the World Cup.

"The good thing about the stickers is they peel off and stick back on, which will be helpful if a player is injured and needs to be moved around as the competition progresses. Each week, the retailers will have the same stickers containing the same players so there won't be any doubling up.

"The wallcharts are ideal to go on children's bedroom walls and great for the bigger kids too."

emma.j.jones@swwmedia.co.uk