A LANCASHIRE charity is helping under-privileged youngsters in Africa to enjoy the beautiful game.

The Lancashire Gulu Link, which helps youngsters in Gulu, a war-torn area of Uganda, has been presented with a full set of Blackburn Rovers strips.

The strips are to be sent to the children in Gulu so they can mimic their Premiership idols and start their own football team. Phillip McHugh, a fundraiser for the charity, said: "There is an un-reported war in Gulu that has been going on for years and the children there are the biggest sufferers.

"This kit is going to go to children who may be mentally ill or disabled because of that war as football is often very therapeutic for them.

"I don't know how they manage it but they do know all about the Premiership and its stars, so now they will be able to impersonate them."