A LANCASTER-BASED compensation law specialist is backing Blackpool FC with a six-figure sponsor-ship deal.

The Life Repair Group already sponsors the UK's leading cycling team and has laid out a two-year deal with The Seasiders.

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

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

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

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

Blackpool FC commercial director Geoff Warburton says: "We have only had the facilities that warrant the type of sponsorship Life Repair Group are looking for in the last couple of years."

Seasiders manager and former England international, Steve McMahon, welcomed the contract, saying: "It's exciting. I don't think the club could have done something like this a couple of years ago."