HARD working Bolton schoolchildren had a chance to meet two of their footballing heroes as a reward for their dedication.

Red-hot Wanderers stars Michael Ricketts and Per Frandsen took time out from training to congratulate the latest group of graduates from the stadium's study centre.

For the past three years Study@BWFC has been working with groups of youngsters across the town in a bid to motivate and encourage them to improve at school.

Centre manager Janet Rhodes said: "This is part of a Government learning campaign called Playing for Success, which involves Premiership clubs across the country.

"We work with children who are working hard at school and as a reward give them extra lessons here one night a week for six weeks to motivate them further."

During that time the children are given the chance to hone their information technology and computing skills, literacy and numeracy skills.

"We arrange for the pupils to interview the players and we have a slot in the football programme which we use to highlight their work," said Mrs Rhodes.

This week successful students from the final round of courses from St Saviour's Primary, Ringley; St Stephen's, Kearsley Moor; Prestolee Primary and Spindle Point Primary were awarded prizes for going the distance.

And soccer stars Ricketts and Per Fransen were there to say well done at a ceremony also attended by Bolton's director of education Margaret Blenkinsop.

"Michael is certainly the man of the moment," said Mrs Rhodes. "The children were thrilled to meet him. They were given certificates and prizes of miniature Lofty Lions and BWFC lunchboxes.

"Per Fransen asked for one of the lunchboxes and said he would now be able to bring his sandwiches onto the pitch on Saturday. After hearing that I think the prizes we handed out will be well used by the children."