Becks in Bedford

16 July 2013, 11:46 | Updated: 16 July 2013, 11:56

Pupils at the Bedford Academy school have had a special - and surprise - visit from David Beckham.

The football star took part in a morning of sporting activities and held a question and answer session.

Beckham is an ambassador for Sky TV, and Bedford Academy is the school of this year's Sky Sports Living for Sport student of the year winner Wayne Instrell.

The activities were led by Instrell and his athlete mentor, Maggie Alphonsi plus 19 students from Bedford Academy who have just signed up to Sky Sports Living For Sport.

Watch a video report on David Beckham's visit to Bedford Academy

Beckham said: "There are over 30,000 pupils that are involved in this initiative now. It's doubled in the last year so it's so important that parents and teachers really push this."

It's been suggested that a boost in sports participation that followed London 2012 is beginning to drop off. Beckham says that makes initiatives like Living for Sport critical, particularly in schools.

"There's always more than can be done. But I think it's what our country does. We preserve legacies. The success we had in the Olympics, we can't afford to not to keep that legacy going," he said.

"We can't afford to keep young kids from coming through and becoming sportsmen. That's why Living for Sport is so important and it's so important we keep doing the work we are doing."