A GROUP of Tibetan football fans is to receive an autographed photograph of their favourite player, Alan Shearer.

Newcastle United have donated a signed picture of the Magpies captain after hearing he is a hit with the Tibetans.

Jo Fletcher-Lee, who is The Northern Echo's classified sales manager, met members of the Tibetan community during a recent holiday in India.

They live in exile in the northern part of the country. Because they are not entitled to any benefits, they make carpets and wood carvings to sell.

When Mrs Fletcher-Lee visited the carving shop, she found they had pictures of Premiership players on the wall.

"The photographs had been taken out of newspapers, so I thought it would be nice if we could send them a signed picture of Alan Shearer," she said.

Mrs Fletcher-Lee is planning to send the photograph to the Tibetans