A Great Harwood man has organised a trip for underprivileged and disabled children across East Lancashire.

Children across Hyndburn, Blackburn and beyond are being taken on a trip to Alton Towers on July 28.

Mickii Edwards gave 52 tickets VIP tickets away, meaning they will not have to queue for rides, and even organised travel for the families attending.

Ex-rugby player Mickii said it is the 73rd trip he had organised in the last decade, thanks to £3,500 in profits made from his bar, the Tipsy Cow, in Great Harwood.

He said: “The cost of living crisis has been hard on so many people. A lot of people aren’t going on holiday and are struggling.

“It was such a shame hearing some of their stories and it was nice to be able to get the kids a day trip.

“When teachers ask these kids what they did on their holidays at least they will have something to say.”

Mickii said the tickets were allocated within 45 minutes showing how many families are in need of a day out.

He said: “Absolutely every place has gone to disabled children foster children, children in care, young carers and kids that just need a fantastic day out.

“We wanted to give everyone a chance to go. We are taking a number of children with health and medical conditions.

“I can appreciate where these children have come from. If you know that type of lifestyle and when you grew up in those estates you know what these children are going through.”

Mickii is appealing to business owners for funding in order to allow more children to go.

He said: “It’s so upsetting I have to now say no to a lot of people. If you are a business owner and doing well and fancy helping me out with the cost of a minibus and more places, I would be happy to organise it.

“It just goes to show that there’s a lot of people struggling out there it breaks my heart I can’t do more.”

It is not the first time the former Oldham and Swinton rugby league winger, who was diagnosed with early-onset dementia aged 48, has organised a trip like this.

Last year, he took Ukrainian refugees on a trip to Disneyland Paris.

He also took 50 families on a dinosaur-themed day out at Mrs Dowson’s Farm Park in Clayton-le-Dale.