FREESTYLE football champion John Farnworth entranced young fans with a dazzling display of his skills.

The world’s widely-regarded top football artist gave a demonstration of his agility and ball control to appreciative school pupils in Chester-le-Street yesterday (Tuesday March 17).

Park View School staged the display in its theatre, on what was a whistle-stop tour of North-East schools for the ball trick wizard.

He showed the skills which have helped him win World and European titles in Football Freestyle, while holding no less than five world records in freestyle football.

The 29-year-old Lancastrian has made a career of his expertise, since mastering the art of Brazilian ball skills as a teenager.

A one-time apprentice player with Preston North End, he opted for the demonstration circuit rather than the competitive playing side of the game from his late teens.

It has seen him performing in more than 30 countries including shows during World Cup finals, European Champions League finals, various Formula One Grand Prix races as well as on stage at both the Broadway and West End.

He showcased the skills at the Park View Theatre to an audience of 230 children from surrounding local primary schools, including Woodlea, Chester-le-Street Church of England, Cestria, Ouston and St Cuthbert’s RC.

Some willing, if slightly nervous youngsters, also participated in the show.

Today’s display was organised by the Fast Football Academy which delivers football sessions at Park View and other schools and youth groups across the North-East.