The cast of the boots was bought by a Swansea taxi firm boss

A cast of the silver boots Henson wore when taking the winning kick against England last month sold for �8,500.

The auction was organised by Welsh lock Brent Cockbain and wife Kate in memory of their one year old son Toby, who died of a brain tumour.

The Wales squad and British Lions' chief Sir Clive Woodward joined 250 guests in Swansea to raise �40,000.

Cockbain's Ospreys and Wales team mate Henson said all the players had wanted to be involved in the evening.

"I play with him with the Ospreys and we all went through what happened and we were all there as a team at the funeral," he said.

"It's amazing how he has come through this thing. He's playing the best rugby of his career at the moment.

"It says a lot for Bent that everyone, coaches and players, wanted to be here for him and Kate tonight."

The cast of Henson's boots was bought for �8,500 by Wayne Harris, a taxi company owner.

He said: "If Wales go on and win the Grand Slam it will make the item a lot more prestigious and hopefully the next time they go into a charity auction they could make double that."

Toby Cockbain died from a brain tumour last September.

Kate and I have been overwhelmed by the support we have received. Brent Cockbain

All the money raised from Wednesday night's auction at the Towers Hotel in Jersey Marine will go to the Toby Lloyd Cockbain Foundation, set up to support Latch, which helps families of children with cancer and promotes research.

Other guests included entertainer Max Boyce, singer Eve Sherratt and television presenter and former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable.

Cockbain, 30, said since the foundation had been set-up members of the public had made donations ranging from �5 to �750.

"It's our son that it happened to but all these people have been moved it," he said.

Brent and Kate Cockbain were overwhelmed by the support

"Kate and I have been overwhelmed by the support we have received. Kate has been the driving force behind it."

And he paid a special tribute to his Welsh team mates who turned out on mass to support the evening.

"It's an exciting time to be a member of the Wales squad as they are such a great bunch of blokes. Everyone has been great."

His wife, expecting again in April, said: "I don't feel we've had to do much, the support has just been fabulous.

"Everyone has been incredibly generous. It shows what a fantastic community the rugby community is."