BOXER Amir Khan has spoken of his sadness at the loss of more than 100 young lives in the Peshawar school massacre.

Amir was at Bolton School speaking about education — the day after the Pakistani Taliban attack at the Army Public School in the city of Peshawar.

Amir, who is from a British-Pakistani background, has raised money to build new schools in Pakistan, including in the city which is in shock following the deaths of 148 people, of which 132 were children.

He said: "I was sad and upset to hear the news.

"What has taken place in Peshawar is absolutely horrific and sickening.

"After recently becoming a father myself I can’t really imagine how the families of these innocent children are feeling.

"My thoughts are with the families and my deepest condolences go out to all the families affected and I wish to express my full support for Pakistan and the people of Pakistan.”

He added: "I have supported schools in the area and Pakistan has to strengthen security around schools. Education is so important because kids are the future.

Amir spoke about his rise to become a world's leading boxer at Bolton School boys' junior division after taking up the sport at the age of eight, telling the children that to achieve in life "you have to work hard" — before staging a question and answer sessions.

He said: "It is all about having that dream and chasing that dream — at the age of eight I had that dream to go to the Olympics — I am achieving all my dreams and it is all to do with hard work."

Amir, who has just returned home from America after defeating welterweight Devon Alexander in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday, said: "It was good to talk to the pupils about hard work and focus and about working hard in school."

Youngsters at the school said the Bolton star's talk was motivational.

Rayhan Vasnwala, aged seven, managed to get the boxer's autograph.

He said:"Amir's message was to always try your best."

Aspirational boxer, Benjamin Evans, aged nine, added: "I want to be a boxer and and it amazing hearing how he did what he had done — I want to go right to the top.

“I learned a few tips, like the stance to take.”

Archie Stocks, aged eight, said: “It was a really inspirational talk about doing what you want to do.”