Celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh got his hands dirty on a visit to an award-winning school gardening club.

Alan, star for six years of the BBC's Ground Force, helped to plant bulbs and vegetables, at Haworth Primary School gardening club, on Wednesday.

The belated visit of the television star -- it had been hoped he would launch last year's gardening club calendar -- was another coup for the successful group.

Alan answered the pupils' questions on a variety of subjects, including gardening, his career, hobbies, television appearances and also his visit to work on the garden of Nelson Mandela.

He also signed photographs, books and other items for the pupils before he hit the garden.

Ilkley-born Alan said: "It is good to get children interested in gardening. It is taking stewardship of the planet.

"I think this club does wonders for the area and does wonders for the kids."

He officially opened a new polytunnel in the school's garden and helped children to plant gladioli bulbs, tomatoes, runner beans and broad beans.

During his work, he showed the children a variety of gardening tips.

Children showed him around the garden, including its potting shed, mini-pond and bird table and showed him pictures of recent frog spawn.

Alan commended group founder Steve Thorpe for the work he had done and said: "It is so important to start them at a young age."

Steve said: "He is my hero. I have wanted to meet him for such a long time. I think it is such an honour for us that he could spare his time and come along.

"We have been all looking forward to it for so long. You can see that we are all excited."

Steve presented Alan, who was accompanied by his wife, Alison, with a picture of the Haworth moors.