STAFF at Bury-based football club FC United of Manchester are asking kind-hearted soccer fans to do their bit to help poorer people overseas.

The team, who play their home games at Gigg Lane, want fans from all teams to donate their old football kits so they can be sent to children and adults from some of the poorest parts of the world.

Anyone wanting to help has plenty of time to get their kits ready - they will be collected at Gigg Lane between 1pm and 3pm on March 15, before United play Newcastle Blue Star.

Kits are also being collected at the club's office at 5th Floor, Hope Mill, 113 Pollard Street, Ancoats, Manchester, during business hours on the week of the game.

FC's general manager Andy Walsh said: "In 2006, our supporters donated more than 300 shirts to KitAid and we want to do even better this time around. We are appealing to our supporters to clear out their cupboards and donate any clean unwanted football kit, including shirts, shorts and socks to the appeal.

"KitAid is a registered charity, created in 1998, which donates unwanted football shirts to children and adults across Africa, India, Eastern Europe and other developing countries."