MYSTIC Uri Geller made his name by bending cutlery with the power of his mind, and at Beaulieu yesterday Uri proved he could also bend humans to his will.

A huge crowd of Uri fans massed in the National Motor Museum lobby to meet the multi-talented Israeli, who duly performed his spoon-bending stuff with a teaspoon from the nearby Brabazon cafe.

Uri then auctioned the twisted teaspoon in aid of the National Motor Museum Trust, with the added prize of a visit to his home near Reading in Berkshire.

Top bid came from 12-year-old amateur magician Joe Steward from Roberts Road, Totton, who persuaded his mum Barbara to bid £50 - including all Joe's pocket money - for the autographed spoon plus the chance to have tea on Uri's terrace.

"Joe's hobby is magic and he spends all his money on tricks. He was so excited at the chance of meeting Uri Geller, but we didn't expect this as well," said Barbara.

A matching bid from Pat Thomas, on holiday from London, resulted in another invitation to the Geller home.

When the hubbub subsided, Uri turned his attention to the main business of the day - presenting Lord Montagu with a historic spoon to be added to Uri's cutlery-covered Cadillac on display in the museum's front lobby.

The silver medicine spoon was given to the Duchess of Windsor, then Mrs Wallis Simpson, by Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1934, and snapped up by Uri at the New York auction of the Duchess's worldly goods.

"Among the 5,000 or so pieces on my car are many once owned by famous people," said Uri. "There are spoons and forks owned by Kennedy, Einstein, Houdini, Presley and Lennon. The crystal globe on the front was owned by Salvador Dali."