A North-East farmer has stumbled into the job of coach to India's national rugby team.

Alan Gledson, 45, swapped a farm in Birtley, near Hexham, Northumberland, for the playing fields of Bombay after a chance meeting between his wife, Margery, and Sanjay Syal, a member of India's squad.

In a country obsessed with cricket, rugby is paid little attention and the team had never won a match.

But under the guidance of Mr Gledson, who has only coached amateur teams as a hobby, they recorded a historic victory.

In fact, in a four-match tour of Sri Lanka, India lost only one game.

Mr Gledson, who has been playing for Tynedale Rugby Club, in Corbridge, is now the toast of Indian rugby.

He said: "I didn't even know they played rugby in India. But then my wife met one of the Indian players, who lives in Newcastle. She found out they needed someone and mentioned that I did a bit of coaching. Six weeks later I was standing in Bombay with a rugby ball."

Mr Gledson, who used to captain Northumberland, hopes to return to help the team in the Asian championships, in Hong Kong, in November.

Tyneside-born Sanjay said: "The lads have picked up a bit of Geordie. They still say why-aye man and alreet.