FOOTBALL fans are being urged to help local charities.

Followers of Middlesbrough Football Club can play their part by recycling unwanted mobile phones to raise money for the Rotary Children's Fund and the club's chosen charity, Teesside Hospice.

Paul Morgan, of Natural Partners, which has joined forces with Boro for the scheme, said: "It is estimated that there are 90 million redundant mobile phones in the UK. This scheme gives the opportunity to clear them out and help local causes at the same time.

"Thousands of new mobile phones were bought for Christmas, making thousands more redundant."

Fifty thousand freepost envelopes are being distributed to encourage fans to recycle phones.

Mr Morgan said: "We hope the freepost envelopes will help to encourage more supporters and local people to donate their old phones."

The freepost envelopes will be available in local shops, offices, the Riverside Stadium and the Middlesbrough Football Community Centre, in Eston.

Boro are the first Premiership club to take part in the scheme.

Fans can also donate their phones at recycling bins in the Riverside Stadium.