YOUNG footballers in a west African country are cutting a dash on the pitch in Rishton United and Blackburn Rovers shirts.

The youngsters have been helped by a Rishton couple, who regularly travel to Gambia to give aid packages to schools and sports teams.

As part of a recent trip, Allan and Carol Hindle, of Cedar Close, took a package of donated Rishton United and Rovers football strips which have been welcomed with open arms by the players.

The local football academy was so grateful they have even voted to change their name officially to pay their respects to Rishton United.

Allan, 55, and Carol, 56, are not part of any charity, and do not make any money from their trips, and say the smiles on the children's faces is their reward for the hard work.

Carol, who works for Capita in Blackburn, said: "We have been out there about ten or 12 times. I have been going about twice a year until February this year.

"I realised they were very very dedicated people but the children had no kits at all. I had a word with Rishton United and they had a lot of kit they didn't need.

"Everybody was overjoyed to get it.

"I used to buy something every week to take over to the schools. By buying something every week I was not laying out the money all at once."

The donations to Gambia began when Carol and Allan, a self employed caterer, went on holiday to the country a number of years ago, and took some school equipment with them to donate.

While in the country, a poor nation and one of Africa's smallest, the couple made a number of contacts at the school the Guntur Lower Basic School, and the Sanyang football academy now the Sanyang Rishton academy.

So far they have taken football kits including goalkeeper's gloves, running shoes, drinking bottles and even flags, thanks to the support of Rishton United and Blackburn Rovers.

And the African academy has even returned the favour, and had a set of T-shirts drawn up with their new name, and sent them to England with Carol and Allan.

Carol said: "They had some T-shirts printed for our children.

"Some people did without meals to be able to provide them. A little goes a long way over there and they really do appreciate it."