Harry Styles gives pupils at old school 100 free tickets for show

One hundred lucky school pupils have bagged tickets to Harry Style's one-off concert in Manchester later - thanks to a gift from the star himself.

Holmes Chapel Comprehensive in Cheshire - where Styles attended until age 16 - said 50 pupils will attend the Co-op Live Arena show later, with each granted a plus one.

Headteacher Nigel Bielby said the "lucky applicants" were randomly selected from 600 applicants at the school.

"As Harry's ex headteacher I am so pleased that he has kept a place in his heart for his roots and for the village and school where he grew and thrived," he said.

Bielby said after receiving the "unique and generous offer" from Styles, the school set about letting families know.

"With only a short amount of time to plan distributing the tickets, we decided that the fairest way was to open a ballot and allow all families a fair chance," Bielby explained.

'Harry understands integrity'

He said that by midnight on Thursday there had been more than 600 applications from eager pupils.

"We used a random number selector to choose 50 numbers and then used these to select each family listed in the ballot, and by mid morning on Friday we were pleased to email the lucky applicants to let them know they had been successful."

"I am sure that they will have a fantastic time at the concert.

"Even given his incredible rise to fame and his immense talent and success Harry understands what it means to be successful but also to maintain his sense of personal identity, integrity and credibility.

"I am so grateful on behalf of all of the families I serve for the gift of allowing children from his old school to be part of an event that for some will be a once in a lifetime experience."