A seven-week football tournament has been launched to raise cash for two important causes.

Organisers of the five-a-side competition in Brighton hope to raise as much money as possible for the Neil Cooper Appeal and a campaign to buy a new minibus for St Mark's school in Whitehawk.

The appeal was launched by The Argus to raise funds for experimental treatment for Mr Cooper, 33, from Portslade, who is dying from cancer.

Eight teams are taking part and organisers hope to encourage local businesses to get involved by sponsoring the goals.

Skint Records have got things going by donating £1 for each goal throughout the whole tournament.

Things got off to a good start on the first day this week when 26 goals were scored.

Organiser Dan Tester, who knew Mr Cooper when they were teenagers, said: "This adds to the incentive to score as many as possible and raise the total even higher. If more companies can get involved we can get even more.

"We are also charging people to take part in the tournament. We are sticking to eight teams as we are restricted by time.

"Things have got off to a good start so far and we hope that by the end of the tournament we will have raised a large amount for both causes."