A sun damaged cardboard cut-out of singer Taylor Swift that has cheered up commuters for over five years is to be auctioned off to raise funds for charity. <br /><br />The life-size likeness of the 'Shake It Off' star has looked out from an apartment window in Manchester since 2017 and is loved by Metrolink tram passengers.<br /><br />It quickly became a landmark among city centre commuters as it can be viewed from the Cornbrook Metrolink stop and it even has its own hashtag on Twitter. <br /><br />But when the flat's owner Red Redmond, 32, announced they were moving to Sheffield, commuters feared a blank space would be there instead of the cut out.<br /><br />However, fans will have the chance to bring the iconic cut-out, which has been nicknamed 'Tram Taylor', home when it goes under the hammer later this month. <br /><br />Red hopes the cut-out's popularity among commuters can raise funds for the Mermaids Charity, which supports gender-diverse youngsters.<br /><br />Red, a comedy promotor, said they chose the charity after the murder of trans teen Brianna Ghey in nearby Warrington.<br /><br />They said: "She's had so much support and means so much to so many people as they see her on their commute every day.<br /><br />"So we wanted to maximise the amount of people she can benefit. <br /><br />"We wanted to give one lucky bidder to the opportunity to walk home with a small piece of cultural heritage. <br /><br />"But then all of the proceeds that we do raise, will go to the Mermaids charity which is quite important to us particularly following the tragic murder of Brianna Ghey."<br /><br />Commuters love story with Taylor will continue, as Red has purchased a new cut-out to go in the window of the two-bed apartment as a replacement.<br /><br />It was recently listed for £1,050 a month and Red has added a clause into the tenancy agreement which says the new owner has to keep it in the window.<br /><br />Red added: "We made the decision to keep a Taylor Swift cut out in the window. <br /><br />"So the one that's currently in the window isn't the original cardboard cut-out but it's a new one to help benefit the commuters of Manchester who see her every day.<br /><br />"We've even added a clause to the tenancy agreement which means that the new tenant has to keep Taylor in the window and replace her if she gets damaged.<br /><br />"I haven't personally met the new tenant so I don't know if they are a fan but they've accepted the clause. <br /><br />"They live there now and are currently looking after her so they must be a fan on some level surely."<br /><br />Red is unsure how much money the figure of the 'Anti-Hero' singer will go for, but they said one person has said 'they are going to spend their lives' savings' on it. <br /><br />They said: "I did a fundraiser for Mermaids on my Twitch channel a couple of years ago and managed to raise £500 so I would really like to raise more than that. <br /><br />"But I've seen one person claiming that they are going to spend their lives' savings on it, I don't know how true it is but threats have been made."<br /><br />The cardboard cut-out will be going to auction at Adam Partridge Auctioneers from April 12 to April 14.
