Football fans played a six-a-side tournament as part of a project to support people living with mental health issues.

The Coping Through Football project hosted the event at Score Centre, opposite Leyton Orient’s Matchroom Stadium last Thursday (October 19) to mark World Mental Health Day.

The scheme, organised by North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), the London Playing Fields Foundation and Leyton Orient Trust, aims to boost the wellbeing of adults dealing with mental health problems.

Many of the users of the project have experienced social exclusion, unemployment and poor physical and mental health.

All who took part received medals from Leyton Orient director of football Martin Ling, while first-team player Alex Lawless was on hand to referee some of the games.

Barbara Armstrong, from NELTF, said: “The Coping Through Football project is all about inclusion.

“About creating an environment for all the participants where they feel equally valued. In recognising World Mental Health Day, we are promoting these values.

“WMHD continues to remind us of the ongoing need to draw attention to the significant barriers, stigma and discrimination faced by anyone experiencing mental health issues.”