FOOTBALL fans affected by job cuts at BMW and elsewhere in the county have been offered a helping hand by Oxford United.

BMW staff who have worked, or are still working, at the Mini plant in Cowley in 2009, plus anyone else who is unemployed, can get tickets for this Saturday’s home game against Mansfield Town for £10 – a saving of at least £7.

Any eligible adult can also buy an under-16 ticket and their own for £14, with additional child tickets costing £4. The discount is valid for the North Stand and the family section of the South Stand.

Chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “There have always been strong connections between the club and the car factories in Oxfordshire.

“We also recognise that these are tough times economically and every industry is affected, so we wanted to offer a small token to all those at the factory, whether they have lost their job or not, and also to all those that are out of work.”

Tickets must be booked by 6pm on Friday and fans must show either an ES40JP form or a BMW, or agency, payslip from this year, as well as identification, when collecting tickets. The box office number is 01865 337533.