A TEENAGER who became a worldwide internet sensation after a picture of him walking an elderly man home from the shops went viral has gone back to school — to a hero’s welcome.

Christian Trouesdale got a standing ovation from classmates at Rivington and Blackrod sixth form after he was captured helping 95-year-old Bob Malloy home from the Aldi store in Horwich where he works.

His classmates have said that Christian’s new-found fame has not changed him at all and that his act of kindness was typical behaviour for the 18-year-old.

Student Murray McCloughlin, aged 18, said: “Everyone cheered for Christian when he came back to college.

"A lot of people recognised him because that picture had been absolutely everywhere on facebook over the weekend.

“The worldwide fame hasn’t changed him at all though — he is the same old Christian, which is great because he is a top guy.”

Pal Thomas Lindley, aged 17, said: "I have known Christian for about three years and he is a great friend and will always try to help other people.

“I wasn’t surprised to hear what he had done but I didn’t expect it to go so massive.”

Reece Chadwick, aged 18, added: “He told me what he had done and the next minute it had gone viral — it is exactly the type of behaviour we would expect of Christian.”

Christian has since been inundated with attention and offers for interviews.

He has appeared on Loose Women and is set to take to the airwaves on BBC Radio Five Live this weekend.

He said the attention has been surprising.

He added: “I am coping with it all okay at the moment, although I think I might need to hire a personal assistant.

“I have been to see Bob since all the publicity just to see how he is doing and he is fine — I told him to ask for me the next time he is in Aldi and I will of course walk him home again.”

Christian’s head teacher at Rivington and Blackrod, Tony Purcell, was also full of praise for his actions.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted to see that Christian has demonstrated such care and support for somebody within our community.

“Our community is very important to us at Rivington and Blackrod High School and we pride ourselves on the concept of the Rivington family, with all students playing their role as caring and responsible citizens.”