A STROKE survivor returned to his Runcorn classroom to thank pupils for their fundraising efforts.

Chris Roberts, aged 66, was delighted to meet his pupils at St Berteline’s CE Primary School after having a severe stroke on January 10.

They collected loose change in spare gloves and made handmade bracelets to raise £800 for the Stroke Association.

Parents sold recordings of school assemblies on DVD and three teachers took part in the Run Halton road race to raise more cash.

Dad-of-two Chris is now able to walk short distances and is making progress with his speech.

The stroke has left him with aphasia and unable to move his right hand side.

He taught at St Mary’s CE Primary School in Castlefields and then became deputy head teacher at Fairfield Junior School in Widnes for 26 years.

After taking early retirement, he worked at the Windmill Hill school for eight years.

His wife Lyn, aged 66, from Norton Cross, said: “He absolutely loves teaching. The children all love him.

“His claim to fame is that he taught ‘sporty Spice’ Mel Chisholm gym. He taught her how to do the back flip!”

Julie Barron, head teacher at St Berteline’s, said: “We instil basic christian values and encourage our children to care for others.

“We love Chris dearly and his stroke came as a real shock to us all, so this was an opportunity to put those values into practice and show our support for Chris and his family.”

Chris has two daughters, Sam, aged 22, and Georgia, aged 20, and two grandchildren.

They walked up Snowdonia to raise funds for the charity.