BORO fans in the North Stand can prove they love their town as well as their club with a dramatic "lovemiddlesbrough" card display at the Riverside this afternoon.

Seven thousand red and white cards will be held aloft in the North Stand before kick-off against Tottenham, spelling out the message "Love Middlesbrough" to launch the new campaign.

The Ayresome Park gates will be the focus of entertainment, free-to-enter competitions and giveaways to help the council's campaign off to a flying start.

There will also be band as well as non-stop entertainment from stiltwalkers, jugglers, face-painting and skilful freestyle footballers, while 500 children will be given giant foam hands with the lovemiddlesbrough logo emblazoned upon them.

The campaign is an exciting new initiative designed to encourage local people to express their love and pride for their town as well celebrating its considerable success.

You'll be able to find out more on the campaign's new official website www.lovemiddlesbrough.com, which will go live to coincide with the launch.

Over the coming months the campaign will continue to raise its profile with the recruitment of business people, sports stars and other local celebrities for an Ambassadors Club, while more high-profile events highlighting the positive happenings in Middlesbrough are in the pipeline.

David Budd, Middlesbrough Council's elected member for Culture and Regeneration, said: "Apart from the first home match of the new season, there are two excellent reasons for being at the Riverside on Saturday - firstly, for the entertainment and secondly to demonstrate how we are all working together to promote a positive image of our town."