A GROUP of football-crazy boys has received "star" treatment.

The youngsters had all done well in a pioneering literacy campaign and were rewarded when they met Middlesbrough Football Club star Gianluca Festa at the Cellnet Riverside stadium.

The children had taken part in the Boro Boys Into Writing initiative, which aims to develop literacy, information technology and art skills by building on many boys' passion for football.

The programme was developed by Middlesbrough FC's study support centre in association with literacy consultant Ruth Chalkley and Amanda Smith, from Middlesbrough Education Action Zone.

Boys from Berwick Hills, Brambles Farm, Caldicotes, Pallister Park, Pennyman, Park End, North Ormesby and St Alphonsus RC primary schools, in Middlesbrough, attended the course and worked with their fathers, grandfathers, teachers and classroom assistants on a project combining poetry and imagery.

Martin Hedgley, study support manager, said: "The course has had a great impact on the boys, who have produced powerful, purposeful poetry with fantastic football images.''