A KIND hearted gas manager is collecting discarded, kid-sized football shirts to bring joy to the street children of Goa.

George Wilkinson from Yarm has asked his colleagues at the region's gas pipeline operator, Northern Gas Networks to hand in their kids' football shirts after seeing at first hand the poverty and social depravation in India's fourth smallest state.

He said: "Some of the children we see begging on the beach are as young as five years old.

"In many places there is no running water and they are living rough on the streets or being cared for in the orphanages."

For the past eight years, Mr Wilkinson has been giving out a handful of used football shirts to the El-Shaldai street children's home in Baga, Goa.

Later this month he is hoping to take around 50 shirts and is calling on people to donate old kit.

"It's amazing to see the donated shirts," he said." The colours represent all of the main teams including Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Leeds, Carlisle and Sunderland. The smile on the faces of the children when they get the shirts is priceless and makes it all worthwhile."

Anyone wishing to donate children's football shirts can contact Mr Wilkinson on 07770 643987.