A FOOTBALL fan is hoping to help a Serbian charity by collecting "useless" money supporters never had a chance to spend.

Glynn Jones, aged 47, was one of the fans held under armed guard at a roadside service station in Serbia before the Whites' UEFA Cup clash with Red Star Belgrade last month.

The fans were advised to change some pounds into Serbian Dinar at the airport, but they never got a chance to spend any money.

And Mr Jones still has his Dinar as the currency can only be bought in Serbia and cannot be exchanged outside the country.

Now he wants other fans to send him their Dinar so he can donate it to the Serbian charity Hospices of Hope.

Mr Jones, of Lostock, said: "I think there will be a few thousand Dinar knocking about in Bolton, but it is completely useless to use because it can't be changed at travel agents.

"I thought it would be a nice gesture to send it to a charity in Serbia because there are so many that are crying out for help. It also proves that not all football fans are yobs."

He posted the idea on the wanderersways forum, and fellow fans agreed it was a good idea.

About 230 fans were detained when they arrived in Serbia on December 6.

Supporters on an official club trip were herded on to coaches and taken to the service station in Belgrade when they arrived in Serbia at 7am, while others were plucked off the street if spotted by police and taken to the cafe.

They were detained in a room which police used as a holding area for nearly 10 hours, and were eventually taken to Red Star Belgrade's stadium at 5.30pm Mr Jones added: "It was certainly a new experience, but being held in the service station wasn't too bad. We just made the best of a bad situation."

Anyone wanting to donate their currency to Mr Jones can contact him on 07786 021760 or email him at glynn778@btinternet.com.