A RECORD-breaking football freestyler has performed his latest trick - creating his own ball.

John Farnworth, of Longridge, is current World Football Freestyle Champion – performing tricks with a football whilst keeping it in the air.

And he is in the newly-published Guinness World Records book for performing 83 ‘Around the Worlds’ - passing the foot completely around the ball without letting it touch the ground - in one minute.

Now John, 22, whose family are all Blackburn Rovers fans, has worked with football manufacturer Mitre to design a ball which will help other freestylers emulate his tricks.

He said: "I have designed this ball alongside top ball technicians to make it the ultimate football freestyle ball.

"If anyone wants to take up football freestyle, this is the perfect ball to use.

“I have grown up using whatever ball I can get my hands on for my training and shows, but being able to design a ball specifically for freestyle is so exciting."

The size five ball has an exclusive Mitre clincop lining and panel pattern - and has been designed to give extra grip for control.

John, who has performed and judged this year in Dubai, Spain, Switzerland, France, Thailand, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Turkey and China is keen to use his position as a role model to inspire youngsters to follow his lead and achieve their goals in life through commitment and endeavour.

A former pupil at St Cecilia's High School, Longridge, he showed promise as a footballer when he was a boy and played for Preston Town and Preston College as well as being on the books at Preston North End as a youngster.

But, because he was small for his age he was often overlooked and made a substitute for the teams, despite coaches recognising that he was the most skillful player.

He was inspired to turn to freestyle after reading a book called "Learn to play the Brazilian Way" by coach Simon Clifford, who had set up a Brazilian-style football school in Leeds.

In 2004, John met with world-renowned football performer Mr Woo, who noticed his abilities with a ball and invited him down to a competition in London.

John won and this catapulted him to the forefront of football freestyling, both in the UK and abroad.

The ball and dvd package costs £24.99 and is available from John's website initially before going on sale at world famous toy shop Hamleys in London and then across the country.