A LEADING Southampton leukaemia research charity is calling on Premiership football to help fight off new laws which could be disastrous for cancer patients.

Leukaemia Busters are calling on supporters to sign a petition to prevent the introduction of a European Bill which would send the cost of clinical trials skyrocketing.

Dr David Flavell, honorary scientific director of the group, warned if the directive is approved hundreds of cancer patients would be stopped from taking medicine which could save their lives.

Now Portsmouth Football Club is helping the charity gain as many signatures as possible by encouraging soccer players and fans nationwide to join the campaign.

Dr Flavell said the new laws, due for introduction in May next year, would mean not-for-profit research organisations would have to adopt the same working practice as the pharmaceutical industry at great expense. He said: "If the new European rules are introduced our pioneering clinical trial work will have to stop. Leukaemia Busters would continue and would be able to carry on with laboratory research but we will no longer be able to test newly discovered treatments in patients. We are calling on people to sign a petition to prevent this legislation. We hope to gain at least a million signatures."

Portsmouth FC manager Harry Redknapp said: "People follow football in their millions and if they see footballers supporting this they'll realise how important it is and perhaps they'll all come in and support it. You can't turn your back on it and think it doesn't affect you because it could affect anybody."

The petition can be signed online at www.leukaemiabusters.org.uk/SOCTCampaign.htm