FORMER England football star Gary Lineker is hitting Southampton cinema screens this month in aid of the fight against leukaemia.

The sports celebrity is appearing in a message screened before each film shown at Odeon Leisureworld until Friday.

He will be appealing for money on behalf of Leukaemia Busters, the charity, based at Southampton General Hospital, of which he is now patron.

His son, George, was successfully treated for leukaemia several years ago.

The cinema collection was the brainchild of Odeon manager Steve Christie, and will finance clinical trials of a revolutionary drug developed by scientists funded by Leukaemia Busters.

Children from King Edward VI school in Southampton, Peter Symonds' College at Winchester and the 28th Southampton St Michael and All Saints Scout Group, among other institutions, have responded enthusiastically to calls for help with the collections.

For more information, contact Deborah Edgington, fundraising manager of Leukaemia Busters on 023 8079 6270.