TONY Blair was left head over heels as he visited a gymnastics club supported by his sports foundation.
The former Prime Minister dropped in at Tyneside Gymnastics Club, North Tyneside, and watched a demonstration of pikes, flips and tucks.
Mr Blair launched the foundation in the North-East seven years ago, which seeks to train sports coaches and officials.
"I'm amazingly proud of what the people in the foundation have built over the last seven years," he said.
"We now have put about 4,500 coaches and officials through the programme and without that support they wouldn't be able to do it but with it they can do amazing things.
"I did not expect we would find such a demand for coaches for grassroots sport. In the North East we have the facilities but without the coaches it can't happen.
Political editor Chris Lloyd sat down for an exclusive interview with the former Prime Minister today - read the interview in tomorrow's Northern Echo
"I've been amazed by the numbers of people going through the programme and it's a tribute to the great people who work for the foundation."
Mr Blair will be making further visits to sports foundation projects in the region this afternoon.
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