CHANCELLOR Gordon Brown was meeting Liverpool football players and manager Rafael Benitez.

He was announcing details of a £600,000 sports development grant for a local youth club alongside the football manager and stars Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

The Chancellor was being joined by Sports Minister Richard Caborn for the event at Anfield Youth Club in Liverpool.

Mr Brown was in the city as part of a tour of the North-west region, which also includes a visit to Bury where he was meeting parents and children at the Hoyle Early Learning Centre.