MORE than 150 starstruck youngsters enjoyed a memorable day on Friday as their footballing hero returned home to lead a special football camp.

Caroline Weir, who currently stars for both Real Madrid and Scotland, came back to her home city to pass on tips to kids at the event at Pitreavie Sport and Soccer Centre.

Organised by The Pars Foundation, the charity which runs Dunfermline Athletic FC's community programmes, the free event allowed those taking part to learn and hone their skills from the 28-year-old, who has played for her country at both the World Cup and European Championships.

"It's nice being back in Dunfermline, but to come to an event like this, and see all those girls play football, was really cool," Caroline told Press Sport.

"I felt really proud to be here and to see all those girls wanting to be involved in football because, back when I was their age, that wasn't the case.

Dunfermline Press:

"It just shows how far the game has come and to be a little part of that is a real honour.

"When we were organising, we weren't sure how many would come because it was kind of short notice, but I was told 100 girls, and I honestly couldn't believe it. I was so impressed and surprised that so many wanted to come.

"To see them all there, to see them all loving just playing football, being around football, having their kit on, and really looking like they were having a good time, was the most important thing.

"It was cool."

Kelly Armstrong, general manager of The Pars Foundation, added: "It was a great success.

"It was obviously very last minute in terms of it was happening, so we had a few weeks to plan it, and the more we were talking about it, the more people wanted to become involved in it.

Dunfermline Press:

"First and foremost, it was for the girls, and there was boys there as well. It was for the girls and boys to actually have this contact time with a local celebrity, a real role model and inspiration to all these girls.

"It's quite empowering to see the impact that Caroline had. Parents were there, people getting taxis, people from Edinburgh coming over to see her. It just goes to show the impact that these sort of events, and people like Caroline, giving up their time, have on people."