Cameron admits he's a Villa fan

Conservative Party leader David Cameron revealed his footballing colours during a visit to the Black Country.

He was in the region to meet members of the Dusk Twilight Midnight Leagues, set up by Wolves at Dudley's Castle High School.

Despite the various footballing allegiances on show among youngsters at the scheme, Mr Cameron was happy to admit to being an Aston Villa fan. After meeting some of the key figures involved in running the leagues, he watched children aged between nine and 11 practising.

And not to be outdone, the Tory leader tried his luck at a free-kick training routine the youngsters had been attempting, only to put his own effort narrowly wide of the goal.

"I think this is a great programme," he said.

"The capacity of sport to inspire young people is absolutely huge and I really applaud Wolves for this. 'The devil makes work for idle hands' is a terrible cliche, but there is certainly a lot of truth in it. It is particularly important that sportsmen and women become involved in schemes like this, because they have an ability to influence young people far more than a politician or a police officer could do."

At the end of the visit to the St James's Road school, Mr Cameron was given a replica Wolves shirt with his surname and a number 10 on the back.

But Wolves representatives dismissed suggestions the shirt had been left over from midfielder Colin Cameron's time at Molineux. Councillor Liz Walker, cabinet member for children's services at Dudley Council, said she was delighted that Mr Cameron had asked to visit the programme.

She said: "He is really interested in children's services and what we provide for young people and their families."

Insp Richard Jones, from West Midlands Police, said: "Lack of youth provision is a high priority in many neighbourhoods and boredom can often lead to anti-social behaviour and low level crime, such as criminal damage.

"The Leagues at Castle High School provide an ideal mix of sporting activity and educational workshops dealing with everyday issues."