Newcastle United legend Peter Beardsley used his sharp-shooting skills to boost a school’s charity effort.

Sixth-formers at Whickham Comprehensive enlisted the help of the former England and Magpie star to help hit their £6,000 target for the charity CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young.

He took part in a penalty shoot-out in a charity week organised by Year 12 pupils.   Pupils then paid £1 to try their penalty prowess against Newcastle Academy goalkeeper Mark Pringle, and forked out to get their photograph taken with Beardsley.

Spectators also paid to watch the fun event in the school’s sports hall, helping push the total past the target.

Teacher Peter Crane said: “Peter was brilliant. He took a few penalties and then spent an hour signing autographs and having his picture taken.

“The goalkeeper was bombarded for an hour with people taking penalties.

“He saved some - including one from the head teacher - but there were also quite a few goals.

“At the end of the day we’d raised £7,500 - well above our target - and the figure could get up to £8,500.”

The week is an annual event at the 1,652-pupil school and is organised by youngsters as part of their studies.

This year’s charity committee chose CRY in memory of 13-year-old schoolboy Paul Hindmarsh who collapsed and died of a heart attack during a Newcastle United FA Cup win at St James’s Park in March 1999.

Events held earlier in the week included a quiz, disco, variety show, aerobics and a ceilidh.

The fundraiser was launched with a supermarket bag pack that raised a whopping £1,500. It was being rounded off with a non-uniform day - which was sup­ported by primary pupils and staff at the feeder schools — and a house party, which Newcastle Falcons players Doddie Wear and Inga Tuigamala supported by making an appearance.

Mr Crane said: “It was a fantastic week with a great atmosphere.”