FOOTBALLER Rio Ferdinand has been praised by a Bolton charity for his powerful account of losing his wife Rebecca to cancer and raising their three children without her.

The Jennifer Charity was among the many people and organisations to take to Twitter praising the former England footballer for his bravery.

The Bolton-based charity was set up by bereaved father and son James Edgington and his father, Graham, to help widowed fathers and their families.

When James was just 16 months old his mother, Jennifer, died in a car crash in snow, in Crompton Way in 1985.

Singer and actor James, from Harwood, who shot to fame with his dad as Father and Son on Britain’s Got Talent.

Yesterday they were among those paying tribute to the footballer as the BBC documentary was broadcast.

Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad is available to watch on iPlayer

Ferdinand lost Rebecca to breast cancer in 2015 when she was just 34 years old.

Twitter was flooded with tributes from sports stars, celebrities and public figures

The Jennifer Charity tweeted: "So important to show #BeingMumAndDad. Really highlights the need for help and support needed for men. Thank you for sharing @rioferdy5"

The charity tweeted on Monday as people started to discuss the forthcoming documentary: "So good that this is being discussed. This will help awareness and support for #Widowers."

James said:  “Rio said in the documentary that it was his wife who knew what to do and how to deal with emotion.

“Men often think showing emotion is a weakness because of society and I hope this documentary brings about a culture change in which men are able to show emotion, which is so important, feeling they are not able to can have effect on mental health.

“Our charity supports men who have been widowed and their children and we have men contacting us from all over the country, especially those who are outside of cities and cannot join a support group.”

Mr Edgington was asked by social services if he wanted to give baby James up as it was “unusual” for a man to be on his own with a child.

But the doting father brought his child up the best he could with help from his family.

Others who took to Twitter included boxer Tony Bellew who said Ferdinand was "inspiring", telling the star: "I have no words for the admiration I have for you or the bravery you are showing everyday... my heart goes out to you."

Actress Tamzin Outhwaite said: "So much respect. What a wonderful man and father you are. Well done for going on that journey You are a warrior... you should be so proud of yourself."

Former England cricketer Graeme Swann said he had "enormous respect" for Ferdinand after watching the programme, while broadcaster Aled Jones said the account was "truly incredible", adding: "You are an amazing person Rio."

Lord Sugar described the programme as "very moving".

Mrs Ferdinand was first treated for breast cancer in 2013 and the disease returned in an aggressive form in March 2015.

Ferdinand said the three months his wife spent in hospital were "incredibly difficult".

He said: "I felt almost betrayed by the diagnosis, betrayed by the illness because you think, 'you got it once, you are not going to get it again, surely'.

"You feel like, how can you get that type of luck. You don't think the worst-case scenario can happen."

She died within 10 weeks of the diagnosis, leaving her family with little time to prepare for her loss.

The couple's children were aged four, six and nine at the time.

The documentary followed Ferdinand as he met other families coping with bereavement and looked at the support given to parents and children who lose loved ones.

Many praised him for telling his story in a way that will help others going through similar tragedies.

Phillip Schofield tweeted: "That was amazing. You'll have helped so many people."

Comedian John Bishop said he had "total respect" for Ferdinand, adding it was "moving and informative and something that will help others I am sure".

Before the programme's broadcast, the former Leeds, Manchester United and West Ham star hit out at the Government, saying it is "wrong" to cut back the time widowed parents can receive bereavement benefits.

For more information about The Jennifer Charity visit jennifercharity.word press.com or call 01204 361723.