YOUNGSTERS rebuilding their lives after devastating floods in Sierra Leone have been kitted out with shirts from Oxford United.

The club has been sending kits from years gone by to schools in the African country for the past few years, but when they heard, in August, that six children from one of the schools were swept away and killed in a mudslide, they were spurred into action.

United responded by sending out even more kits, with Yellows staff saying they were moved to tears by pictures of youngsters wearing them along with a thank you message.

The mudslide and flood hit the country's capital Freetown, killing more than 1,000, according to local leaders.

The number of confirmed deaths reached 500 but officials warned hundreds more were missing and feared dead.

At the time Oxford United said it was "deeply saddened" to hear of the deaths and responded in its own way to improve the lives of those at the school.

The club's business development manager and former player, Peter Rhoades-Brown, said: "We have a great relationship with them and love to help donating the kits, but this year was particularly poignant and I don't mind admitting there were a few tears in the office when we saw the message they sent.

"The area has been hit so hard but football can do so much good and it is fantastic to see that Oxford United are playing a small part in helping people get their lives back to normal."

The school benefitting from United's shirts was fortunately not hit by the floods but six of the pupils were visiting the affected area of Freetown at the time and were killed.

The League One club have supported charity Goodwill and Growth for Africa UK, whose trustee Alan Wolstencroft, from Banbury, has helped distribute the kits.