ST HELENS Rugby League Club are teaming up with the council and Merseyside Police to give racism the 'red card'.

It is all part of a high profile campaign to tackle racism and hate crime in general.

The campaign's high profile launch will take place before the Saints v. Wigan game on April 8 which is being televised by Sky Sports.

The Saints squad will wear specially designed T-shirts to help promote the event.

During a full summer of events to promote the campaign there will be a competition to design a red card poster. The winner will be presented with their prize before one of the Sky televised rugby games.

The campaign will be rolled out into the local community, high schools and special schools.

Saints players will meet pupils at assemblies to help drive home the anti racism and hate crime message.

The local event is part of the national Government campaign to tackle hate crime.

Council Leader Marie Rimmer said: "Racism is totally unacceptable. By linking up with our rugby club and others we can really drive home the message that we will not put up with racism, or indeed, any form of hate crime."

Campaign money is being available via the St Helens Safer Communities Fund - the pioneering partnership between St Helens Council and Merseyside Police to tackle crime issues across the Borough.

Russell Thomas, Saints' marketing manager, said: "We are a family club with a strong community focus and are delighted to link up with the Local Authority and Merseyside Police on this project to tackle the issues of hate crime at a local and national level."

Chief Superintendent Andy Ward from Merseyside Police said: "Merseyside Police are delighted to support this campaign to drive racism and hate crime from our society and to show everyone that there is no place for it in St Helens."