Fans queue over night for David Beckham's West End book signing

Beckham-mania broke out in the West End today as hundreds of fans queued for signed copies of David Beckham’s latest book.

People camped out overnight to meet the former footballer, and some were in for disappointment as only the first 500 in the queue were guaranteed to meet him.

Two hours before the doors were due to open, more than 700 people were already in line.

Retired teacher Helen Steck, 69, was so keen to meet him she flew in from Hamburg and booked a room at the Cavendish Hotel, yards away from the Waterstones’ book signing in Piccadilly.

“It sounds extreme but I’ve been a fan since the Manchester United days and thought this was an amazing opportunity that won’t come around very often in life. We’re allowed two books so am going to get one each signed for my sons, who are in their thirties, for Christmas,” she said.

Poppy Mason-Taylor, 22, who came prepared with blankets and a hot water bottle, said: “I wanted to be nice and cosy because I knew I’d be queuing for hours. I just had to meet David, he’s the whole package - a great personality, stylish, a family man, a celebrity.”

The self-titled autobiography contains never-before-seen photographs but accordingy to thebookseller.com, it has sold 27,000 copies since publication on October 31.

The memoir of his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson has sold 568,000 copies since October 24.

Dan Gregory, 29, was queuing to meet Beckham to even the score with his boyfriend, who has met the ex-England captain five times.

Mr Gregory said: “My partner works in Harrods and he and my friends are always saying I’ll never get to meet David Beckham, so I had to come here. Beckham is a gay icon, a style icon, a sporting icon - everything he touches turns to gold.”

The Geddes family of six had travelled through the night from  Weston-Super-Mare for the chance to meet their “sporting hero”.

After getting her book signed, Katie Semler said: “I feel all floaty and excited, I still have butterflies to be honest. He’s so good looking in real life and so nice. I’m completely flying.”