SOUTHAMPTON Test MP Alan Whitehead has defended going on a Euro 2004 freebie organised by burger giant McDonald's.

Health experts and MPs have lined up to criticise the trip just days after the government announced a crackdown on spiralling obesity among Britain's youngsters.

The Commons Health Select Committee recently called for the Football Association to drop McDonald's as a sponsor.

But Mr Whitehead, a Labour backbencher, justified his four-day trip to Portugal with the All Party Parliamentary Football Club, coached by former Saints boss Lawrie McMenemy.

He said: "The All Party Parliamentary Football Club has had a long-standing relationship with McDonald's."

The football club have supported McDonald's excellent Football in the Community programme and the food giant has assisted the club in raising money for charity.

"The Parliamentary Football Club has recently donated £22,000 to the Football Association to help fund their football development work in Afghanistan.

"Earlier this month it helped raise thousands of pounds for a cystic fibrosis charity."

Mr Whitehead said the club visited Portugal to "fulfil a long-standing invitation" to play a match against a team of MPs from the Portuguese parliament.

He said: "As an official sponsor of the England team, McDonald's agreed to sponsor the Parliamentary club visit. The match raised more than 20,000 euros for local Portuguese charities.

"The parliamentary match also provided an opportunity to develop relationships between MPs of both countries.

"It is one of a series of matches that have been played against parliamentarians from Hungary, Czech Republic, Japan, Germany, Ireland and Russia."

As a sponsor of the trip to Por-tugal, McDonald's paid for flights, hotels and hospitality, all of which will be recorded by the club and individual MPs in the official registers.

Tickets for Euro 2004 matches were paid for by MPs. Mr Whitehead was among 17 senior MP's, including a government minister, who jetted into Lisbon on Sunday night.

The MPs' trip has come under fire from Romsey MP Sandra Gidley, who challenged them to justify accepting the invitation.

Mrs Gidley said: "MPs do get many invitations but I cannot see how this one can benefit their constituents or the country.

"I am surprised they have all gone and I really cannot see how it can further their knowledge. They probably won't be eating McDonald's when they are out there!"

Dr Steve Watkins, of the British Medical Association's public health committee, said that the MPs were "irresponsible" for allowing their names to be linked to promote fast food.

The jaunt included watching England's opening-game 2-1 defeat against France in Lisbon and the burger giant organised tickets for the big opening matches.