A VILLAGE football team hoping to travel to Uganda to improve a football pitch have raised £750 towards their trip.

Members of Draycott United are preparing to jet out to Africa, where they will level out the uneven pitch and also buy clothes and stationery to give to local youngsters, many of whom have lost limbs after being forced to be soldiers.

The club decided to help the children after visiting the country's capital, Kampala, in 2007 to take part in a football tournament organised by the Kids League Foundation, a charity set up by Draycott couple Ann and Trevor Dudley.

So far, a street collection by players has raised £95; a talent show at Bemrose School made £462; and a further £150 was collected in donations.

The club's under-13s assistant manager, Andy Daykin, said: "We've also got tonnes of football kits to take out but we would appreciate more donations so we can buy more things for the youngsters."