SOUTHEND United’s French stars Jean-Francois Christophe and Francis Laurent were both on hand to help young pupils with their studies yesterday.

The duo spoke in their native language to a class at the Montgomerie County Junior School in Benfleet.

And the Rushbottom Lane school’s headmaster Chris Pratt was delighted they went along.

“It was a nice thing to do and tied a lot of things we do together,” he said.

“We run an afterschool club with Southend United and were grateful that the players could come down to help our pupils get into French a little bit more.”

Christophe and Laurent spoke with the pupils, answered their questions and signed autographs.

And Christophe enjoyed the experience.

“It was good fun,” he said. “I did feel under pressure though; it was worse than playing football!”