Lancaster City's footballers face a university challenge next week - but it's all in a good cause.

City will take on Lancaster University on Thursday night as part of a night of fun, which will raise cash for Children in Need.

The game is also part of City's continuing bid to attract more students through the gates at Giant Axe.

The club is promising some surprises for the night - with familiar faces from the club in fancy dress!

City's commercial manager Cora Patel said: "I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response that we have had so far.

There are lots of different organisations from the university already getting involved, such as RAG, the Cheerleading Society, Students' Union and the Athletics Association.

" Silcocks funfair will be

coming down and there will be a Karaoke Competition in The Dolly Blue Tavern after the match.

We are also hoping to have some live music as well.

"We have had loads of ideas - we have even contacted Jeremy Paxman to send us an audio tape of him shouting 'Come on...Come on'.

He emailed us back the same day saying he would have loved to have done it - but unfortunately he was on a book tour!

"At the moment we are looking for a local company to sponsor the hire of an inflatable human-sized football table - it's something the students and fans might want to have a go at on the night and could raise extra cash for Pudsey!"

Admission to the game is £3, with all proceeds going to Children in Need.

For more information, contact Lancaster City FC on 01524 382238 or email info@lancastercityfc.com.

l Lancaster City's footballers are used to giving blood sweat and tears on the pitch - but, on Saturday, they were just giving blood off it as well.

Players and officials of the club registered with the National Blood Service before the match against Vauxhall Motors and will become regular donors.

A stall was also set up at the Dolly Blue Tavern for supporters to sign up and the service's mascot, Billy the Blood Drop, accompanied Dolly the Blue to promote the campaign.

l Football-loving youngsters from the West End of Morecambe are to raise money for Children in Need with a special tournament next week.

PC Carl Wood is organising the eight-team tournament at Salt Ayre sports centre next Tuesday, with the West End Juniors FC team, which he runs, taking part.

He said: "The West End of Morecambe is not without its own problems, so it is particularly encouraging to see local children thinking not of themselves, but of others less fortunate, and doing something constructive about it.

"This just goes to show that, given half a chance, young people from on of the most deprived areas in the region can set a very positive example to those around them."