ANGELO Balanta may have upset the fashion police on Saturday, but he was way too cool for the Bury defence.

The tights-wearing Colombian scored one and made one as the sixth-placed Shakers were seen off.

The teenager insists his skin-tight black leggings had nothing to do with trend-setting but were just an attempt to keep warm on a day when temperatures plummeted below zero.

He even had to get special permission from the officials before he was able to wear them.

Boss Peter Taylor admitted he never wore tights during his playing career but he says he has got no problems with it as long as the on-loan QPR youngster keeps doing the business on the field.

He said: “I never wore them, but I don’t feel the cold as much as people like Angelo. If it makes him feel better then I’m happy and if he keeps scoring goals like the one on Saturday he can wear what he likes.”

Taylor believes the leggings might even have helped get the youngster through the game by keeping his muscles warm and boosting his circulation.

Taylor said: “He was a doubt on Thursday because he was feeling his hamstrings a little bit.

“We asked what the rule is regarding playing in tights and the rule was that he could play in them.

And while the 19-year-old doesn’t expect his black leg-wear to become a hit in the club shop - he doesn’t care as long as they keep his legs warm through the British winter.

He said: “I wore them because it was so cold. I wanted to keep as warm as I could and they helped.

“I’ve been struggling a bit with a hamstring and because it was so cold I thought I would wear the tights. It is the first time I’ve worn them and I wasn’t trying to set a fashion but I might wear them again.

“Luckily the boys didn’t give me too much stick and maybe if it gets colder a few others might start wearing them but I don’t know if they will start selling tights in the club shop.”

Balanta is on loan until February 14 but he says if there is no sign of Rangers opening the first team door to him by then, he would be happy to extend his stint at Adams Park until the end of the season.

He said: “I feel I’m ready for the Championship now and the experience I’m getting here will only help me.”

l Balanta admits he was lucky not to be sent off following his retaliatory kick at Bury’s Richie Baker.

He said: “I lost my head when he kicked me. I reacted as I shouldn’t have and kicked him on the shin. I was very lucky that the ref didn’t see it because as a professional I shouldn’t be reacting like that.

“I was frustrated when he took the ball off me because I hadn’t seen much of it all afternoon. I am going to have to learn to rise above things like that.”