COLCHESTER United covered the town in a blaze of blue and white.

The U’s campaign aimed to encourage companies to get behind the team and to support its charities.

Representatives of one of the charities, Headway Essex, joined players and mascot Eddie the Eagle in visiting the Headway Centre, on the former Severalls hospital site in Boxted Road, Lloyds Bank, in High Street, and Sainsbury’s, Layer Road.

Businesses allowed staff to wear blue and white in return for a donation. The money raised will be split between the U’s charity partners – Essex Carers Support, Headway Essex, Little Havens Hospice and the TomBowdidge Foundation.

Jo Hockey, of Headway Essex , said: “We are also the current charity for the Sainsbury’s Local in Layer Road, so we thought it would be a great idea to bring some of the players back to the area of their original home.’’

Matt Hudson, media manager with the U’s, said the takeover-thetown campaign had been a success. He said: “It was the second time we have done it. We will look to do another at the start of next season.”