ONE of Bradford's Street Angel volunteers is turning his compassion in another direction, to produce commemorative shirts and hoodies which will raise cash in memory of the Valley Parade disaster 30 years ago.

Jamie Boyle has been a Street Angel for several years and also has a history of raising funds for cancer charities on top of his regular job at a chemicals plant.

Last year he came up with the idea of producing a t-shirt with a '56' logo as a way of remembering those who died as a result of the blaze.

That was well received by fans and this year he has worked with a company called Embroidery House to produce a new version of the shirt, which has been updated with anniversary dates.

Mr Boyle said he wanted to do something for fans as the disaster had affected most people in the city and it was important the victims should be remembered.

He was aged seven and would have been at Valley Parade on the day of the fire, had his father not been at work.

"The only reason I didn't go to the ground was because my dad was working," he said.

"But friends of mine were victims. There wasn't really anyone in Bradford who didn't know someone who was affected.

"Last year I did a t-shirt with '56' on it. We got the idea of doing something simple, to show respect. I didn't want to upset people but wanted it to be always remembered.

"I am Bradford born and bred and wanted to do something for the fans."

Now he is selling the shirts and hoodies for £10 and £22 respectively, with profits going to the University of Bradford Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit which has pioneered advancements in the treatment of burns in the decades since the fire.

Orders for more than 150 shirts have already been placed but it is hoped many more will follow as the anniversary approaches in April.

This year's anniversary is particularly significant because it marks three decades since the disaster and it will be marked nationally, with Football League and Premier League clubs expected to hold a minute's silence before matches on the weekend of April 25.

Bradford City will play Barnsley that weekend and will hold their own minute's silence.

A bucket collection is also expected to take place, in support of a campaign to try to raise £300,000 for the burns unit.

Donations have been credited with financing the work of the unit, which has been responsible for many new techniques to help burns victims recover and also for training a generation of specialist surgeons who now work across the UK and beyond.

Mr Boyle's shirts can be ordered from a series of outlets including the Rose and Crown pub in Bradford city city centre and the hair@172 salon in Wibsey.

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