BOXING champ Amir Khan stepped into the ring to go toe-to-toe — with the boxercise class of St Matthew's CE Primary School.

The school has been holding boxercise classes at Amir's Gloves gym, which is just two minutes away from the Halliwell school.

And Amir was invited to attend the end of year award ceremony which was held at the gym and the excited youngsters could not wait to show off their skills.

Andrew Currid, PE-coordinator at St Matthew's CE Primary, said the boxercise classes have been running to widen the sports opportunities available to young people to keep them fit and healthy.

The school put on the classes alongside the traditional team sports, such as netball and football which have been running for 10 weeks.

Mr Currid said: "The boxercise sessions have really helped to improve the self-confidence, coordination, determination, resilience and fitness of the children who have taken part."

He added: "To make the experience even more magical for the children we invited Amir to the end of year award ceremony and the children were able to ask questions and have their photograph taken with him and show him some of the things they have learned."

The school is now looking at keeping on the classes in the new year as part of its programme to promote health and fitness.

Mr Currid said: "The children loved meeting Amir, this is something exclusive to the school and Amir has been twice to the classes."