HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope was just a young 'un when England won the World Cup in 1966 - but he chose to wear the football shirt made famous by Bobby Moore's side as part of a fun day to help the homeless.

The Labour Whip donned the replica shirt as part of the Strip 4 Shelter day, which will benefit the homeless and people with housing problems.

Thousands of people will wear their favourite side's football kit to work today to help raise money for the charity Shelter. Prime Minister Tony Blair was today expected to join in - and insiders believe he may choose a Newcastle United shirt.

Greg said :"Strip 4 Shelter is a lot of fun, but there is a serious message behind it. The money raised will enable Shelter to help homeless and badly-housed people.

"In particular, it will be used to fund Shelterline, which is the first free national 24-hour telephone service providing advice for people with housing problems. Since it was set up in December, it has taken more than 40,000 calls, helping to solve desperate people's problems."

Greg, a keen Blackburn Rovers fan with a soft spot for Accrington Stanley, said: "Everyone remembers when we won the World Cup. I was five years old and I remember listening to the match on a very crackly car radio as we went on holiday. I didn't wear a Rovers shirt because I don't have one at the moment, although my sons do. And I didn't want to upset the Burnley fans in my constituency!"

People with housing problems can call Shelterline, free, on 0808 800 4444.

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