England fans to sleep in ship crates during World Cup

England football fans will be put up in ship crates during the World Cup as a cheap alternative to hotels, the Daily Star reports.

The 50-pound-a-night windowless steel units can sleep around 12 people.

They look certain to be highly popular as the cost of accommodation in South Africa soars.

Supporters cheering on the Three Lions for their group games face a bill of at least 2,500 pounds.

Tickets are changing hands for up to 1,150 pounds as touts cash in. And hotels are tripling the price of rooms as thousands of fans from 32 nations book for the 2010 tournament.

The containers, which are fitted with en suite bathrooms, will be a massive help for hard-up England followers.

The 120 steel rooms have been set up on the driving range at the popular Houghton Golf Club in a northern suburb of Johannesburg.

Each container is furnished with TV and power. Water and sewerage services will be drawn off the existing supplies at the clubhouse. Guests will have easy access to restaurants, bars and shops and will be allowed to use the clubhouse for dining and recreation.

England’s first game is against USA in Rustenburg, a city not far from Johannesburg where the final will be held on July 11.

Steve Jaspan, a town planner in Johannesburg, said: “This concept, although new to South Africa, is popular around the world. The containers are stored in ports across the world and used for major events.”