FORMER Middlesbrough FC and England defender Colin Cooper and his wife Julie have launched into the New Year with a big donation to the autism charity Daisy Chain.

The Finlay Cooper Fund, named after their son who died from a tragic choking accident in 2002, has made a donation worth almost £3,700 to the charity based at Norton, near Stockton.

Some of the money has already been used to buy computers and other equipment. This week Mr and Mrs Cooper visited Calf Fallow Farm, the home of Daisy Chain, to hand over five iPads to be used by students at the farm.

“We’re keen to do what we can to help charities and good causes that work with children,” said Colin.

“We try and help out across the board. We’re not helping Daisy Chain because Finlay had autism. He didn’t. It is just trying to do the most good we can for organisations that provide respite care for families in very difficult circumstances.”

Judith Haysmore, Daisy Chain chief executive said: “This means that the youngsters who use our services but are in some sort of education programme can use this equipment to help them with projects, in their lessons generally and as a personal development tool."

Daisy Chain is just the latest children’s cause to benefit from the Finlay Cooper Fund that has already disbursed more than £350,000.