FUTSAL players will pull on their boots for charity this weekend at an event organised by the father of Liberty Baker to raise money for road safety.

The under-11s tournament will be held on Sunday and comes as the organisers of a festival in memory of the schoolgirl announced their plans had been given the go-ahead.

Futsal, a form of five-a-side football which is popular in South America, is played indoors on a hard surface.

Liberty’s father Paul has organised the event at Swindon Futsal Arena to raise money for road safety charity Brake, which has provided the family with support since their daughter passed away.

The 14-year-old Witney schoolgirl was killed on her way to Henry Box School on June 30 last year after a car mounted the kerb on Curbridge Road.

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Mr Baker, who hopes to raise about £750, said: “We have got twenty teams involved, it has been quite successful really.

“We plan to do some more in the near future.

“I wanted to repay Brake for all the work they have done for us.

“Since last summer they have given us a lot of telephone support and advice.”

Liberty’s brother Finley, 11, is a keen footballer and also plays futsal for Witney Futsal.

Mr Baker said: “Finley’s passion is one of the reasons why we did this.

“For a bereaved child, playing football takes their mind off thinking about their sibling.''

“We have encouraged him to play more football.

“We hope to do more sessions in the future with other age groups too.”

Another event to raise money for charities and pay tribute to Liberty will be held in Witney on June 27.

Lib Fest will mark the first anniversary of her death and all proceeds will go to a charity chosen by Mr Baker and his wife Maureen.

In the past few weeks each of the major events planned for the day has been given the go-ahead by Oxfordshire County Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and Witney Town Council. The county council waived the £1,500 fee it would normally charge to close roads in the town so a 5k fun run can be held on the morning of the event.

Ten bands will perform on a stage in The Leys and there will be stalls from local businesses, bouncy castles and food and drink on sale.

Event organiser Mike Dove said: “We have got bands signed up which include Twisted State of Mind, 1000 Mile Highway and Fused.

“We potentially have got a headline band to be confirmed. It is a very big act but we cannot say who it is yet.

“We have had masses of support from local businesses and it will be a really fun day for families.

“The music thing was a big thing for us.

“We wanted to make sure it was centred around that because it was a big part of Liberty’s life.

“It has been a busy two or three months of really hard work and a lot of fundraising.

“We are delighted it will go ahead.”

To find out more about future futsal tournaments email charityfutsal@outlook.com.

For more information about Lib Fest visit libertybaker.co.uk.