Whitehaven youngsters showed off their sporting skills at a charity football event yesterday.

The Fun Day at Whitehaven Amateur Football Club was held in aid of Crohn's & Colitis UK.

A group of students from the Whitehaven and Workington academies and Netherhall School in Maryport, organised the event as part of their national citizen service.

Sixteen-year-old Luke Todd, a pupil at Netherhall School, helped plan the Fun Day.

He said: "We are raising money for the charity because some of our NCS group have known people with Crohn's and the damaging effect it can have on their lives."

Children aged between eight and 12 took part in the football tournament, with Team Callum coming out victorious.

There was also face-painting and tuck shop, run by Workington teenagers Cynthia Perez and Dana Hawkins.

The group has also carried out a bag pack at Workington Tesco and a sponsored walk from Whitehaven to Maryport. They have raised nearly £400 from all three events.

The national citizen service involves a number of challenges to help young people make their mark and build skills for work and life.

The social action phase requires youngsters to plan and deliver their own social action project.

Abby Finley, skills and development adviser at Inspira, leads a wave of teams from west Cumbria through the programme.

She said: "Its good for them - some are quiet to start with then they come out of themselves by the end.

"They develop skills in team work, confidence and presentation - there's a big emphasis on personal development."

The teenagers want to raise money and awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which are the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease, affecting more than 300,000 people in the UK.

Crohn's & Colitis UK help people living with the disease by providing support, improving services and working to find a cure.