A NEW charity was launched last night for the people of Blackburn and Darwen to help kids in war-torn countries.

Children of War is the brainchild of two borough councillors and a well-known community worker.

They hope every resident will donate £1 - to raise £140,000 to improve the lives of youngsters across the globe.

The charity was launched at the Jan's Conference Centre, Higher Audley Street.

Civic dignitaries, including the borough's mayor, Coun David Foster, attended alongside special guests such as Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor, who lives in Mellor, and representatives from charities Interpal and Human Appeal.

Guests were charged £10 in a bid to get the fund started. Many more special dinners are planed to raise more money.

It is also intended to have Children of War involved in annual summer events, the Blackburn Mela and Arts in the Park.

Naushad Surve, who organises the Blackburn Mela, and councillors Salim Mulla and Tony Humphrys first came up with the idea for the charity two years ago.

Coun Mulla said: "We had been discussing it for a while, but in the past three or four months we decided we should do this.

"We believe there are between 26 and 28 wars going on. The children are the innocent victims of these.

"There are a number of charities working for all sections of the community but we felt there wasn't a charity dedicated solely to young children. The initial concept was that if everyone in the borough gave a £1 that would be a lot of money.

"But we have other events planned as well. We don't know how much we can raise but hopefully it will be a substantial amount."

Representatives from Interpal, a relief charity working in Palestine, and Human Appeal, which carries out humanitarian work across the world, gave presentations at the event.

The guests were also entertained by musicians from Witton Park High School, Blackburn, via Blackburn with Darwen Council's World Music Project.