AN appeal for old football shirts has been launched.

Northallerton Methodist Church parishioner Sarah Mark wants at least 500 shirts to give to prisoners in Ethiopia.

Ms Mark visited the country in January with a rehabilitation organisation, the Friends of Prison Fellowship in Ethiopia.

She found many of Ethiopia's 72,000 prisoners play football to keep active, but do not have the proper kit.

She said: "It was during the Africa Cup and they were playing football in their own clothes in that heat."

Ms Mark decided to target pubgoers as a likely source of unwanted shirts.

The Standard, in Northallerton, has been the first to get involved.

Landlord Paul Greig said: "A lot of lads who come into the pub play football or are football supporters.

"I have football shirts upstairs and they were just cluttering the place up."

Ms Mark will be returning to Ethiopia in April. Donated shirts can be left at the Standard, 24 High Street, Northallerton.

Anyone who would like to get involved with the appeal can call Ms Mark on (01609) 764125.