A JUNIOR football team in Ellesmere Port faces a race against time to be ready for the new season after a freak accident destroyed their goal nets.

Ellesmere Port Red Lions has set up a fundraising plea for replacement sporting equipment after a tree uprooted over the weekend and fell on all the goals for the junior football squad.

The freak incident means the goals are no longer usable, and has come at a time when the squad would be playing in friendly matches two weeks before their season is scheduled to begin in the Eastham and District Junior Football League.

Local cleaning company Clean to Gleam Widnes has got involved as it wants to help local and surrounding communities with events and projects.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the club in the hope new goals can be purchased for children of various age groups to allow them to continue their sporting season.

To donate to the fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com/f/ellesmere-port-red-lions .