A FORMER Bolton councillor and fanatical supporter of Bury FC has taken on a new role as his club's unofficial mascot.

Bury fan, Paul Perry, is travelling the country to attract a large crowd to Gigg Lane for the historic clash with the Pakistan international side on Wednesday.

Mr Perry, a Shakers' fan since he was a youngster -- who even came back from a major holiday to watch a match -- has been travelling across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire handing out thousands of leaflets to Asians in a bid to get a "full house" at the match.

He said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to bring the Asian community along to a football game at Bury.

"Football should be for everyone from all different sections of the community. If we can encourage members of the Asian community to come along I'm sure some of the talented youngsters among them will then get involved with our youth set-up and maybe even become soccer stars of the future."

He has been travelling around in a limousine provided by match sponsors Sapphire Enterprises to drum up interest in the fixture. He has visited Blackburn, Rochdale, Oldham, Manchester, Kirklees and Bradford to spread the message.

Mr Perry will be at Gigg Lane, resplendent in Pakistan shirt and Bury scarf, from noon on Wednesday right up to kick-off welcoming visiting supporters as they arrive at the ground.

Mr Perry, who lives in Tonge Moor, is well known as a fanatical Bury FC supporter.

During his time as a Labour councillor and Independent Labour councillor representing the Tonge ward he often had to dash off to Bury at the end of important meetings to make sure he did not miss a minute of his beloved team in action.

The tour is the first official visit of the Pakistan national team to the UK. They are only playing at Bury and against Coventry City.

The Bury match kicks off at 7.30pm on Wednesday.

Mr Perry is pictured above outside Gigg Lane's Football Superstore with Chas Khehra of Sapphire Enterprises the tour sponsors.