DISABLED soccer fans have given a cash boost to two medical charities.

Sunderland Disabled Supporters and Escorts has given cheques for £1,000 to the Leukaemia Research Fund at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, and the Children's Heart Fund at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

Vice-chairman Eddie Oyston, of Durham, said: "We gave all members tubes of Smarties and asked them to eat the contents and give the tubes back filled with 20p pieces. Some just put a tenner in the tube.

"We raised about £1,600, and the branch put in the rest as it had some funds available.''

The cheques were presented at a social evening at Belmont Club, attended by Sunderland's Irish international striker Niall Quinn and assistant manager Bobby Saxton.

Mr Oyston said: "We do what we can. We are disabled people but we don't go asking for help from too many people. We try to run the branch with raffles and things."

The disabled supporters also gave £400 to Durham City FC, which has built a small stand at its New Ferens Park ground - used by Sunderland for reserve games - for disabled spectators.