Footballers from North Oxford have encouraged other youngsters to keep fit by wearing a charity logo with a health message on their shirts this season.

Summertown Stars AFC features 19 teams, including Summertown United under-10s and Summertown Stars under-10s.

This season, the two under-10 teams are wearing the logo of Diabetes UK to highlight the risk that being overweight or obese can lead to Type 2 diabetes.

Team organisers said youngsters were highly unlikely to get the condition, so the shirt sponsorship was designed to remind adults to stay fit as well.

When the two boys' teams needed a new kit, Mike Ward, assistant manager at the Cutteslowe Park-based club, approached a local bioscience research company.

The firm agreed to pay for the shirt, shorts and socks — and recommended Diabetes UK for the shirt logo, because it worked with the charity.

Mr Ward said: "Kids who play football regularly are highly unlikely to be at risk, but we wanted to take the opportunity to get a positive health message across to children and their parents.

"We wanted to reinforce the message that if you do lots of running around when you are young, you are more likely to stay healthy now and later on in life.

"It's the adults who are much more at risk, but childhood obesity is on the increase."

Conor Fitz-Bilic, nine, captain of Summertown United under-10s team, agreed.

"Playing football keeps us fit and healthy," he said.

Penny January, South East regional fundraising manager at Diabetes UK, said: "We are delighted the Summertown under-10 teams are supporting us this year and wish them a successful season."

Summertown Stars AFC was founded in 1973 and in the forthcoming season will field a total of 21 teams across 12 age groups, stretching from under-sevens to under-18s — including three girls' age groups.

The boys' under-15s age groups play in the Oxford Mail Boys League while the boys' under-18s teams play in the Oxfordshire FA Invitational League.

The girls teams play in the Oxford Mail Girls League.