THE UK's biggest compensation law specialist is backing Blackpool FC with a six figure two-year sponsorship deal.

The Lancaster-based Life Repair Group, now the market leader in personal injury litigation following the collapse of The Accident Group, already sponsors the UK's leading cycling team.

Life Repair Group's chairman is former international cyclist, Tim Schools, a Seasiders supporter for the past 35 year.

He hopes the deal will help raise the profile of the firm, founded four years ago, which employs 400 people at sites in Lancaster and Kirkham.

"I have always followed Blackpool," said Mr Schools: "And we have been supporting them on a commercial basis for two years.

"I became aware that the sponsorship arrangement with Electricity Direct was coming to an end and we were asked if we would be interested in taking over the shirt sponsorship, and jumped at the chance."

Blackpool FC's commercial director, Geoff Warburton, says the deal is a measure of how far the club has come in raising its profile and developing its Bloomfield Road ground.

"Tim has been involved as a supporter for 35 years," said Mr Warburton: "But we have only had the facilities that warrant the type of sponsorship Life Repair Group are looking for in the last couple of years."