BLACKBURN Rovers star David Dunn has spoken for the first time about his relationship with a teenage soap star and said: "It's going really well."

Midfield ace David, 23, and his 17-year-old girlfriend Sammy Winward, who plays Katie Addyman in ITV soap Emmerdale, appeared hand-in-hand to give out prizes to Beavers, Cubs and Scouts at St Wulstan's primary school, in Great Harwood.

David and Sammy got together last year after meeting at a Peter Kay concert at King George's Hall, shortly after his split from glamour model Jackie Degg.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph columnist David, a former St Wulstan's Scout himself, said: "We've been together about six months now and it's all going really well. We're having fun and enjoying ourselves."

But he dispelled rumours the couple were planning to move in together, saying: "Not yet. We're taking it step by step."

Blonde Sammy, who lives near Bolton, said she was thrilled with her soap career despite the long hours and hard work which could make relationships difficult.

Her schoolgirl character has been involved in some of the soap's strongest storylines in the last two years -- she has had underage sex, become pregnant, miscarried and been mugged.

She said: "Emmerdale is absolutely great, though it can be really hard work and sometimes involves long hours, which means we don't always get much time together.

"But everything's going really well with David. We're happy and enjoying ourselves."

Most of the children clamoured for a glimpse of David and paid little attention to Sammy, but she didn't appear bothered not to be recognised.

"It happens all the time," she said.

"All the kids love Dunny and he's always out playing around with his young cousins, so I'm used to it."

Dunn was criticised by Rovers manager Graeme Souness earlier this season, who hinted the player's lifestyle caused him to "take his eye off the ball".

But the row seems to have calmed in recent months.