The Millennium Stars have been invited to take part in an international youth festival at Coatbridge.

It was hoped the African team's appearance would boost the UK Government's international campaign against the use of youngsters in the armed forces.

There was outrage in the international community when it emerged that children had been pressed into action by both the Liberian Government and rebel forces during the country's civil war.

Put differences aside

However, when the war ended in 1997 the teenagers put their differences aside to form a football team.

At first they trained barefoot and without a football until they were given one by a local missionary, Father Joe Glackin from Scotland.

The team were invited to attend the festival in Scotland by the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund and the Catholic Secretariat for Young People.