UNDER-PRIVILEGED youngsters from Malta have enjoyed a three-day stay in Rossendale.

The party of 28, all football fans, watched Manchester United stars at their Carrington training ground and attended the match against Leicester City at Old Trafford.

All the youngsters, aged between nine and 12, live in children's homes in Malta. Six of them stayed at the Crawshawbooth home of United footballer Phil Neville and the others, plus two priests, booked in at the Royal Hotel, Waterfoot.

It was their first visit to this country. Six of the children are members of the Gary Neville Soccer School in Malta and won a soccer skills competition out there.

Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville raised money to pay for the trip when they organised a charity dinner in Malta for under-privileged youngsters.