ORPHANS and street children living in the shadow of Mount Everest are the latest recruits to the claret and blue army.

Young people taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) award scheme run by Burnley FC’s community support trust have handed over their colours to their counterparts in Nepal as part of a charity crusade.

Campaigners from across Burnley, Pendle and the Ribble Valley joined the Resolve International to collect unwanted sports kit under a ‘Challenge Nepal’ initiative.

Keith Laycock, Resolve’s chairman, said: “This project is ideal because everyone has benefited.

“As well as helping young people in Nepal, the DoE participants have achieved the volunteering section of their awards which aims to inspire young people to make a difference within their communities and develop compassion by giving service to others.”

The donations have been stored at Turf Moor and are now set to be shipped out to the mountainous country, where Resolve workers will distribute them to orphans and street children as part of efforts to encourage their sporting prowess.

Volunteers arranged their own publicity campaign and Blessed Trinity College students collected £240 during a supermarket bag-packing fundraiser.

Jonathan Heys, the trust’s DoE manager, said “It’s great to think we are now sending a consignment of Burnley strips to this remote corner of the globe, shipping out all sorts of clothing from caps and socks to gloves and trainers.

“Sport is a great way to encourage young people to become involved in activities which lead to more positive lifestyles.

“We hope that our efforts will make a difference to children living with the hardship of poverty in Nepal.”