England cricket captain Joe Root in the driving seat with Shropshire students - video and pictures

Root, 26, took part in a question and answer sessions with students at the University of Wolverhampton's City campus.

And he had a go in a Formula Renault car, brought in from the university's Telford campus for the occasion.

Staff member Tara Andrew and student Aidan Riley, both of Telford, were there to help the cricketer as he struggled to squeeze into cockpit of the car.

The event was raised to mark the sponsorship of Root's first club Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club by the university.

It came just days after Root took over the England captaincy from Alastair Cook, who resigned after more than four years in the role.

Root, who has also recently become a father for the first-time, had been vice-captain.

At the morning question and answer session he said: "It's been an amazing couple of months and a great couple of weeks.

"Being appointed captain is very special and I hope this is now the start of a very exciting year."

University vice chancellor, professor Geoff Layer, played for Sheffield Collegiate and has known Root for more than two decades. He said: "Joe has always been dedicated to whatever he has wanted to do. This link-up with the club is a strategy of partnership in sport, bringing in young people and encouraging them to get involved."