AN East Lancashire charity is celebrating a major victory after winning support from stars at Blackburn Rovers.

The club has backed Child Action Northwest, which is based in Wilpshire, by highlighting the work it does.

And players have even worn T-shirts with the charity’s logo before recent Premier League games.

Fundraising manager Harriet Roberts said: “We’re delighted that Blackburn Rovers are profiling the charity at a time when we need to recruit foster carers.

“We also need to raise funds more than ever for our work with local children and young people in the community, having lost £1.4million in the last 12 months through government cuts.

“The players will be wearing CANW T-shirts on the pitch in the pre-match warm ups. It is a real result for us.”

Salesbury Primary School has also got involved in the project and youngsters met players including David Dunn, Chris Samba and Paul Robinson at a recent event.

Headteacher Pauline Mallaby said: “The school has been doing some project work based around the history of the charity as Blackburn Orphanage because of the close links between the orphans in the past who used to attend the school.

“It was an opportunity of a lifetime to be invited by the charity to meet players at the club’s training ground.”

Child Action Northwest is one of Lancashire’s oldest established children’s charities, dating back to its foundation as Blackburn Orphanage by James Dixon.

For the past 10 years it has run a foster care service in addition to its other work.