LIVERPOOL and England soccer star Emile Heskey scored a hit with local youngsters when he popped into a Blackburn newsagents.

The football ace was officially opening a new extension at Khonat Newsagents, on Johnson Street, as a favour to long time family-friend Solly Khonat.

"I have known Emile since he was playing at Leicester and I asked him a while ago if he would come," said owner Mr Khonat. "It was great of him to come."

Mr Khonat tried to keep the affair quiet so as not to overcrowd his business but news soon spread.

"There were hundreds of people, mostly kids. I don't know how they all found out," said Mr Khonat. "The shop was full, the new extension was full. There were even people in my back room and Emile must have signed hundreds of autographs for them."

Mr Khonat's five youngsters were among the crowd but the most thrilled was die-hard Liverpool fan Kavita Asal, who received a special gift off Emile - a signed shirt.

"She was absolutely overjoyed, she was crying she was that happy," said Mr Khonat. "She said later that Emile had made her day." SIGN HERE: England striker Emile Heskey signs a Liverpool shirt for Kavita Asal watched by newsagent Solly Khonet at the opening of his new extension