Gobsmacked youngsters at Wallace Fields Junior School could not believe their eyes when they saw the school’s latest visitor.

England football captain John Terry took time out from his busy training schedule to spend an afternoon at the Ewell school, where he met the children, signed autographs, posed for photos and answered questions from the pupils.

The school had only a day’s notice of the England and Chelsea star’s visit from the England football team sponsor Nationwide Building Society.

It caused almost as much excitement among the teachers as the pupils.

Headteacher Bob Mapleson said: “Talk about starting the school year with a bang.

"John Terry was brilliant with the children and he seemed to be enjoying the afternoon as much as they were.

“Once they had got over the surprise, our years 5 and 6 challenged him with plenty of probing questions and he then met our year 3 and 4 children.

“Our sports captains were granted a special photo shoot with him. It is an occasion I don’t think they will forget.”

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