A PREMIER League striker delighted students during a visit to a Potters Bar school.

Aston Villa and England forward Darren Bent came to Lochinver House School on Wednesday last week, to sign photographs, footballs and shirts, and to pose for photographs with starstruck youngsters.

But the former Tottenham Hotspur marksman was actually at the Heath Road school to promote a different sport altogether.

Students in year seven and eight are preparing for a rugby tour of South Africa next year, and as part of their preparations are attempting to raise �5,000 for the Sethani South Africa Charity, which aims to relieve poverty in KwaNgcolosi, a semi-rural tribal area of KwaZulu Natal.

Bent’s appearance was arranged by year seven student Marcus Jude, and managed to raise around �750 for the school’s campaign, with parents paying a fee to have their child photographed with the goal ace.

Headmaster Ben Walker said: “Lochinver House is very grateful to Darren Bent for giving up his time so generously and helping to raise in excess of �750 for such a worthwhile cause.”

But Bent is not the only sport star to visit the school recently.

British judo star David Logan also popped in as part of the school’s fundraising efforts, having just returned from South Africa himself, after competing in the Junior World Judo Championships in Cape Town.

A spokeswoman for Lochinver House said: “It was great for the boys to have two sporting personalities like Darren and David visit the school.”