A teacher in Bushey has been recognised for his dedicated work teaching football to pupils with special needs.

Daniel Gaze, a teacher at Falconer School, came second in the Paul Pearce Award for the Contribution to Disability Sports at an awards ceremony held at the University of Hertfordshire last month.

The pre-Christmas awards ceremony, hosted by Sky Sports’ F1 commentator David Croft, was attended by more than 400 people.

Mr Gaze started as a teaching assistant at the school seven years ago and is now about to qualify as a PE teacher.

He said: "We also linked up with Hertsmere Borough Council five years ago to work on the Double Club initiative with Arsenal FC.

"This Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (SEBD) programme helps build pupils’ self-esteem through football and literacy and encourages them to play soccer at a higher level."

Mr Gaze has also loaned aspiring soccer players from Falconer School to nearby Bushey Hall School and built links with Queens School.