A HONITON garage is staging a football shirt amnesty in the run-up to the World Cup – so England fans can give something back to South Africa.

A HONITON garage is staging a football shirt amnesty in the run-up to the World Cup - so England fans can give something back to South Africa.

Donated shirts will be distributed to the poor in the 2010 FIFA World Cup host nation.

Honiton Garage, at Turks Head, is one of 17 outlets selected to take part in the amnesty as part of Jet's Dig Out, Drop Off, Donate initiative.

Members of the local community are being urged to delve deep into their wardrobes and drawers and donate last season's football shirts, or those that they have grown out of.

The shirts will then be given to Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), a leading international development charity that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries.

VSO will distribute them to children and adults through their network of volunteers and local projects across South Africa, some of which use sport to help vulnerable children find a better future.

Terry Witt, forecourt manager at Honiton Garage, said: "The people of the townships in South Africa are football crazy and, although most are unlikely to attend any of the games or afford strips themselves, we thought sending over these football shirts would be a great way of making them feel involved and celebrate their status as host nation."

The amnesty will run until June 11.

Roger Watts, Jet's regional manager, said: "We are looking forward to launching our 2010 World Cup initiative and see it as a great way to bring the community together in support of a good cause and in anticipation of the prestigious sporting event.

"Shirts donated can be of any UK or international team, any size and from any season. It is not just individuals who can join in; local teams, schools, professionals or semi-professionals are encouraged to take part too.