A CHARITY will join thousands of Hartlepool United fans who are hoping the team will avoid relegation this season, after a bet was placed on them staying up.

Richard Royal, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hartlepool, was invited to visit the local Ladbrokes shop on Church Street where he placed a £50 stake on the club to remain in League Two at odds of 5/1. If they succeed, the £300 winnings will be donated to the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

The bet, which was funded by the bookmaker, was placed last Saturday morning, prior to Pools’ victory over Mansfield which took them within one point of safety ahead of a vital clash this weekend against Cambridge where they pulled themselves out of the bottom two with a 2-1 victory.

Mr Royal said: "It is vital for the club and town that we remain in the higher divisions, and now this fantastic local charity will also benefit if we do.”