A Michael Jackson fan has thrilled school pupils at a fundraising gig.

Dario Robinson, a Year 11 student at Broadfield Specialist School in Oswaldtwistle, performed in aid of Manchester Children’s Hospital after his friend and fellow pupil Kirk Pinder was taken seriously ill over Christmas.

Lee Bentley, extended services co-ordinator at Broadfield, said Kirk has now recovered and Dario wanted to thank the hospital for their support.

The performance included six songs and six costume changes and raised £124.

Kirk’s mother Wendy Borwick praised the hospital staff for ‘saving Kirk’s life’.

Wendy said the doctors and nurses were the ‘most dedicated she had ever come across’ and she was so grateful that they looked after her and Kirk and let her stay by his side when he was so poorly.

Lee said: “Dario is a big fan and got a really great reception.

“Everybody knows him. He had the whole caboodle and he wanted to do it to say thank you.

“Some of the staff here collected money and sent a donation to the hospital at Christmas instead of sending each other Christmas cards.”