Football stars teamed up with education leaders to launch a campaign to stamp out racism in schools.

Brighton and Hove Albion players helped mark the start of the Show Racism The Red Card campaign, which uses footballers as anti-racism role models, in the city.

The campaign began nationally seven years ago but this is the first year schools in the city and in East Sussex will be taking part.

Shaila Sheikh, education equality adviser for East Sussex, said: "This is to engage young people in talking about racism and using methods which help them to connect with it by using footballers as role models."

Football stars Michel Kuipers, Paul Watson and Leon Knight joined pupils from Patcham High School at the Withdean stadium for the launch.

Ruth Hilton, of Brighton, Hove and East Sussex personal, social and health education team, said youngsters needed to be aware of racism as there were still incidents taking place in the classroom.

She said: "There are still sufficient incidents to make us aware there is still something there."

Secondary schools in Brighton, Hove and East Sussex will get the chance to take part through a competition.

They will watch a video produced by the campaign, which will provide the inspiration for them to write stories, rhymes and poems as well as design posters and produce plays with an anti-racist theme.

Brighton and Hove schools councillor Pat Hawkes said: "Today's schoolchildren are tomorrow's adults so it's vital we get the anti-racism message across to them in a way they can relate to.

"The Albion players are role models young people in our city do look up to so their support for this project is very welcome indeed."

Some of the students from the schools which take part will have an opportunity to attend an awards ceremony in the spring.

Ged Grebby, a spokesman for the national campaign, said: "Racism is something you learn, not something you are born with.

"The idea of our campaign is to give anti-racist arguments, in particular to young people looking to footballers as role models because if they say something more young people listen to them.

"Football is a real melting pot for all different nationalities and races and because of the problems in the past it has suffered with racism, a lot of footballers can comment on the issue and are willing to do so."