MANY dream of Olympic gold – and champion sprinter Darren Campbell urged children at St Lawrence Academy never to give up on their dreams.

The athlete, who clinched Olympic gold at the Athens games in 2004, visited Scunthorpe yesterday to inspire youngsters.

He grew up in a single-parent family in Moss Side and had very little, but went on to be a world champion.

Now he is using his success story to give motivation to the next generation.

"If there's one thing I want you to take from today it's to never give up on your dreams - and no dream is a silly dream," said Mr Campbell.

"Teachers and parents are like Simon Cowell – they see your talent before you do."

He encouraged the crowded sports hall to believe in themselves, be ambitious and strive to reach their goals.

And he assured his audience that whether you want to be a doctor, lawyer or footballer, you must work hard – and if you put your mind to it you will reap the rewards.

Students listened to the talk keenly. Year 10 pupil Dayle Hutsol, 15, said: "It lets us know that anything's possible. I want to be a professional footballer and maybe represent our country one day."

Classmate Callan Pell, 15, said: "I think the talk was good for us for the future.

"Later in life we'll think of this talk and it will encourage us."

Pupils had the chance to ask Mr Campbell some questions.

He was quizzed on his aspirations at secondary school, the feeling of beating the Americans and his feelings towards former teammate Dwain Chambers, who was disqualified for using banned substances.

In the evening Mr Campbell helped present the specialist sports academy's sports awards at the town's Plowright Theatre.

The Olympian was invited to Scunthorpe after a chance encounter with Phil Dalowsky, the director of specialisms at the school.

Mr Campbell said: "I met Phil out in Germany. Then I saw him at a schools' sports conference and he asked me if I'd visit, so I said yes.

"I feel it's important to motivate as many young people as possible and get them to believe in themselves. That's why I came to St Lawrence."

Phil Dalowsky said: "Mr Campbell spoke about the importance of having ambition and dreams and then turning them into something. When you're 11 years old the future can seem quite far away.

"Students don't often get the chance to meet Olympic athletes, and Mr Campbell gives an honest and true representation of himself."