HE travels all over the world giving speeches on "very impressive things" as one of education's leading professors.

But Accrington boy Andy Hargreaves, chairman of education at Boston College, USA, said returning to his roots to unveil the foundation stone at his old school rated as one of the nicest things he has ever done.

And the former Spring Hill pupil was presented with a special surprise "gong" as a memento of his school days between 1955 and 1962 - the old school bell he used to ring on playground duty.

It was an emotional moment for staff, old and new, as they celebrated a £2.25million new build in Exchange Street. Mr Hargreaves said: "This might be a new building but to me it is my old school and holds so many happy memories for me. I get to do very impressive things all over the world but this has to be the nicest and most emotional by far.

"It is a real moment of hope - hope for the future that the school will be full of teachers and children who are happy and learning.

"It is also the belief that you can change your life and can be anything you want to be just by working hard at it and learning. Education is now a big priority." The bell was a particularly special memento for the Boston-based professor, who was also given a Spring Hill watch, old school choir photo and an old log book.

"I always did the bell correctly -- but I was often told off for ringing it without permission. My attitude was what was the point of having the dog if it couldn't bark!

"Now for the rest of my life I can ring it wherever and whenever I like!"

Mr Hargreaves, an advocate of advanced training for teachers, presented the school with a £1,000 LEA grant for leadership and management training.