NORTH-East National Lottery winners Anita and Ken Wynne are using some of their fortune to help save a troubled football club.

The generous couple, who won £3.6m three years ago, are sponsoring Darlington Football Club's home match against Yeovil on Saturday, February 21.

They have already pledged £1,000 towards the fighting fund set up by Darlington Supporters' Trust to help keep the club afloat.

The Wynnes, who live in the West End of Darlington, are keen football fans though Ken's heart also lies with Manchester City, who he has supported since he was seven.

Last night, Mrs Wynne said it was important that people in the town backed plans to save the club.

She said: "We just decided we wanted to help out. We are completely behind the club and the supporters.

"We have got to have a football club in the town. I just couldn't imagine us without it. It would be like a ghost town."

Mrs Wynne, a former care assistant, is a Newcastle United supporter, but also follows her home town team and has been to several matches over the years.

Mr Wynne, who retired from his job as an electrician when they hit the jackpot, hails from Manchester and his first love is Manchester City.

Mrs Wynne said: "Obviously, I live in the town so I have to follow the team as well. Ken is a Manchester City supporter because he is originally from there but I have converted him."

The couple have showed their support for the club on previous occasions by sponsoring Darlington's final game at Feethams and the first game at the Reynolds Arena. They decided to make a donation to the trust fund after the Darlington versus Rochdale match.

Mrs Wynne said: "We were going to donate £500 but decided to give £1,000 after the team won."

More than £22,850 was raised in a week thanks to other fans who were encouraged to sponsor each minute of the home match by The Northern Echo two weeks ago.

Read more about the Quakers here.