BLACKBURN Rovers star David Dunn returned to school to talk to pupils about the importance of discussing their problems.

And he told them he had never felt so low as when he split up with girlfriend, Emmerdale soap star Sammy Winward while he was living in Birmingham on his own.

The midfielder visited Pleckgate High School, Blackburn, today as part of the Premier League's charity initiative Creating Chances.

The scheme invites charities to apply for a £2,000 grant and the donation of a footballer from a Premier League club to promote their work.

Blackburn Samaritans - which is based in New Park Street, off Preston New Road - won the cash and got the Rovers star to go down to the school and speak to pupils about the importance of talking about their problems.

The school's student council watched David take part in a role play situation with a Samaritans volunteer in which he discussed how playing for the club, being injured or even winning games made him feel.

Part of the presentation included a video showing the work of Samaritans and the kind of people they provide a service to.

And this message struck a chord with David.

He said: "After watching that film and seeing that one person commits suicide every 94 minutes, which is just longer than a football game, it was quite frightening.

"It is good to put something back into the community and support a good organisation like the Samaritans."

One of the students asked David what the lowest point in his life was.

He said it was when he split up with his girlfriend two years ago and was living in Birmingham on his own.

David said: "It is great that Samaritans is making young people aware that they can turn to them if they feel like that."

Pleckgate was chosen because of its involvement with Blackburn Samaritans in the past.

Sid Stewart from the charity said the level of adolescent suicide, especially amongst young men, was alarming and needed to be combatted.

Mr Stewart said: "The more we promote what we do the better chance we have of saving young people's lives.

"Young people find it difficult talking about their feelings but we can speak to then confidentially and non-judgementally.

"Some times they don't want to speak to parents or peers but a stranger on the end of the phone is someone they can come to."

It now hopes to put the £2,000 to good use promoting their services throughout 19 schools across Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley.

Blackburn Samaritans can be contacted on 01254 662424 or alternatively the national phone number is 08457 909090.