Waltham Forest Council have teamed up with a professional football team to tackle hate crime.

League Two outfit Leyton Orient are working with the council to raise awareness of the collective role everyone can play in challenging hate.

The O’s players featuring in the campaign include Ruel Sotiriou, Ousseynou Cissé, Joe Widdowson and Dan Kemp.

The squad warmed-up in ‘No Space for Hate’ t-shirts before a recent league match against Walsall at the Bayers Stadium on Monday, April 5.

Chief executive Danny Macklin said: "The club have a long history of challenging all forms of discrimination and this is something we are extremely proud of.

“From ground-breaking players who have gone down in history for their contribution to football, right up to the current day in our diverse workforce, the message is always clear.

“There's no space for hate of any kind at Leyton Orient, and we're driven to work with Waltham Forest Council and other stakeholders to help deliver this message in any way we can."

Waltham Forest Council’s director for Early Help Alastair Macorkindale the campaign was inspire by residents’ desires for a community-led campaign to challenge hate voiced at the council’s citizens assembly last year.

He added: “I want to say a big thank you to Leyton Orient. As the home club of Laurie Cunningham, the first black footballer to represent England, the club has always been a safe and welcoming space. We’re so proud of the work they continue do in the local area. The club really is a fabric of the local community.”