Phil Taylor helps raises £10k for special school

The 16-time world darts champion said it was lovely to be able to help now he was no longer playing

Sixteen-time world darts champion Phil Taylor has been fundraising for a Stoke-on-Trent special school.

The retired star has been a on a mission to help raise £10,000 to pay for a residential trip for ten pupils at Watermill School.

He said it was "lovely" to be able to help, gave him something to "get his teeth into" now he was no longer playing, and he had experience within his own family of caring for someone with special educational needs.

Donations had come from everyone he knew, he said, and fellow Stokie Robbie Williams had been "absolutely brilliant."

The fundraising began with a request from his daughter-in-law for a signed dartboard.

"I said no, we can do a bit more than that, and that's what we've done."

Special education was a "world that, unless you know about it, it does not exist to anybody" and the work was "eye-opening", Taylor said.

On 27 February, he is set to host an auction at the school along with a raffle and cake sale.

"If you've got a bit of fame about you, why not get off your backside and do something for someone else?" he said.

Family worker Olivia Walker and Watermill School headteacher Jen Lomas

Watermill School head Jen Lomas said they had "immense gratitude" for the fundraising efforts of parents, staff and the darts star towards the "life-changing" trip next year.

"I don't think we realised until Phil stepped in and saved the day just what anxiety we had about making sure that we could raise enough money for the children to go, and other activities."

The children will be able to have "an absolutely amazing time and bring back a wealth of memories," added the headteacher.