Bury FC's former striker Andy Bishop has lent his support to a national campaign to provide sports kit to children in need.

Kit Out the Nation is a Make a Difference campaign by the BBC involving a series of donation points for sports kit throughout the country to be given to children who may not be able to afford it.

Bury AFC are one of a number of football clubs to get involved, and set up a kit drop-off point at their regular stand on Bury Market as a way of getting more young people involved with football.

This comes after a report from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee highlighted Sport England data which showed 100,000 fewer children are meeting the recommended level of activity.

Mr Bishop said: “I think this is a fantastic idea to help the children of Bury and I can only applaud Bury AFC for their brilliant idea.

“Especially after the last 18 months, we really want to encourage young people to get involved in football and give the chance to those who may not have the opportunity because they can’t afford the kit.”

“More than anything, we want to encourage young people to get into football and off the streets.”

John Woodhead, board member for Bury AFC said: “Various local football clubs have signed onto this scheme and we’re really proud to be a part of that.

“We are a community club and thought it would be really important for us to get involved, and help children in the area who may have had a particularly hard time because of Covid-19.

“Health and wellbeing are so important for all ages and we want to encourage teens to get involved with sport and football because there are so many benefits to that.

“Schemes like this are absolutely vital in getting the country involved with sport again, especially after we have all spent so long indoors."

He added: “My generation spent so much time outdoors, but Covid-19 has thrown that away and it has hit more deprived areas harder and I think that it is because of people not being as involved in health and fitness.

“So I would want children who will benefit from these kit donations to go out there, have fun and make the most of the opportunities that they have.”