A LIGHT-HEARTED jibe at Blackburn fans has helped raise around £1,200 for Pendleside Hospice.

Burnley fan Mark O’Dowd set up a Facebook group called ‘Agent Kean’s Appreciation Society’ and asked ‘fans’ of the page to donate money to fly a plane over the Rovers game carrying a banner.

Mark, 39, of Cliffe Street, Padiham, said: “I set up the group at the start of the year as a bit of fun because there was a chance Blackburn would get relegated.”

The group now has 2,164 members.

He said it was touch an go whether the plane would be able to fly on Monday due to the strong winds.

The banner, which originally read ‘In Venky’s We Trust - Love Burnley SU’ — had to be shortened by 20ft — removing the word ‘love’ to make it safe for flight 3,000 ft above Ewood Park.

The SU stands for Supporters’ Union.

Mark said originally the message was going to read ‘Agent Kean: Mission Complete’.

He said: “I asked people whether they would be willing to pay towards flying a banner over Ewood, like they did to us 20 years ago and any extra raised would go to Pendleside Hospice.

“I started getting donations through Paypal from Burnley fans all over the world. Before I knew it I had the £480 for the plane and banner and it just snowballed from there. On Monday we had around £1,200 for the hospice.

“It shocked me because it was all a bit of fun. It was something they did to us 20 years ago and they have always had bragging rights. Now it’s a level playing field.”

Money was received from ex-pats in Russia, France, Spain, the Phillipines, Cyprus, Portugal and Australia.

A signed Charlie Austin shirt, auctioned online, donated by Burnley fan Mark Arkwright, raised £83 for the cause.

Tricia Neville, who helped with the fundraising, was delighted to help raise money for the cause.

Tricia, whose sister Jennifer died in November, aged 32, of cancer, said: “I saw it on Facebook and I thought it was a great idea.

“Mark wasn’t sure if we’d manage to raise enough money, but we were shocked when the money started coming in. It was very surprising, especially when people knew that the plane had already been paid for.

“The hospice and the staff did so much for my sister before she died. It’s a great cause.”

A hospice spokeswoman said: “We are always touched to be the nominated charity for a fundraising event.”