A city daily has brought together two rival football clubs to back its Christmas campaign.

The Edinburgh Evening News has launched its Edinburgh Cheer bid, which aims to get readers to do a good deed over the forthcoming festive period.

The Evening News has won the backing of Edinburgh’s two biggest football clubs, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian, as well as the Scottish Government and NHS Lothian.

Among other aims, the newspaper is urging readers to smile and wish others a Happy Christmas, invite a lonely neighbour for lunch and volunteer with a charity.

In a message to readers, deputy editor Euan McGrory said: “It is exciting to see so many of the city’s great institutions coming together to help our local communities.

“Please join our team in any way you can and see what a difference we can make together.”

Other ideas touted by the paper for readers to help the campaign include collecting for foodbanks and donating supplies for rough sleepers.

Hibernian chief executive Leeann Dempster said the club was “delighted” to be working with their rivals on the campaign.

Heart of Midlothian chairwoman Ann Budge added: “The city’s two major football clubs coming together to lead this campaign will, we hope, encourage lots of people to get behind us to deliver Edinburgh Cheer this Christmas.

“While the two clubs are fierce rivals on the pitch, off the pitch we share similar values and a similar determination to use football to create better outcomes for people.”