TWO Manchester United fans have launched a new website with a difference to celebrate their love of the Reds.

Cartoonist Paul Wilde has joined forces with web publisher Steve Taylor, to produce a comic magazine devoted to their favourite club.

The comic, which features Newton Heath and Clayton Bankstreet as its two main characters, is designed to appeal to fans of all ages.

Paul created the characters for his own amusement a few years ago, including them in scripts and comic strips. Steve suggested that they should be published, and now they will reach fans all over the world.

The site was visited 1,000 times in its first week, with its popularity growing by word of mouth. New characters are being introduced each week, such as Cantonadog and Sad Blue.

Paul says: "The site is non-offensive but great fun. I expect football fans from everywhere to visit it and enjoy the humour regardless of it being about two Manchester United fans."

He has noticed the lengths to which some fans will go to pledge their allegiance to the team and he thinks this will be the key to the site's success.

He says: "Life as a supporter does not stop when they leave the terraces on a match day and Newton, Clayton and friends will highlight this in their own amusing way."

Paul and Steve are hoping to develop an animated short featuring Newton and Clayton, and they also want to release a book featuring all the characters next year.

The site can be found at www.newton.clayton.manufree.net and will be available on the first day of each month.

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