HUNDREDS of children from southern Africa have pledged allegiance to Middlebrough FC - all thanks to a Newcastle fan.

Alistair Baker, 47, appealed to every Premiership club for donations of footballs to distribute to children in Zambia.

Only Middlesbrough FC were able to provide 20 balls ahead of the ten-day trip, the basis of a fact-finding trip on behalf of charity WaterAid.

The charity aims to improve water access for people in drought stricken areas of Asia and Africa by providing wells and improving water quality.

Mr Baker, from Tantobie, near Stanley, whose favourite team is Newcastle United, said: "I came across children who were gathering together plastic bags and heating them up to mould together - just so they could have a game.

"Their reaction at receiving something as simple as a football was truely unbelievable. I saw whole schools of hundreds of children running after a single ball. They were all left in no doubt they had Middlesbrough Football Club to thank.

"I think I can safely say the Boro will have fans in that part of the world for some time to come."

Mr Baker, who works as a press officer for Northumbrian Water, visited the country on behalf of WaterAid, which raises between £150,000 and £200,000 annually across the country.

Mr Baker, just back from the trip, said Northumbrian Water actively supported the charity.