Team GB footballers Ellen White and Stephanie Houghton held training sessions for primary school pupils in Barnet this morning.

The England and Arsenal Ladies stars also took part in a question and answer assembly with children on their visit to Whitings Hill Primary School, in Whitings Road, High Barnet.

Midfielder Stephanie and striker Ellen spoke about helping Team GB reach the quarter finals of the football competition at London 2012.

The pair met some of the Games’ biggest stars and Ellen admitted she nearly fainted when they bumped into football icon David Beckham in the Olympic Village.

The players, who recently won the Women’s Super League championship with Arsenal, said they hoped to inspire some of the young boys and girls to reach for their goals.

Stephanie, 24, said: “Neither of us ever thought we would be playing professional women’s football.

“We want to tell these kids to always focus on what they want to achieve and to work as hard as they can because they will get the rewards in the end.”

Ellen, 23, added: “It is sweet that they look up to us and we take that very seriously. It is nice to see how happy and excited they are. We didn’t really have women footballers to look up to when we were younger so hopefully one day these young people will be able to idolise female players as much as the men.”

The visit was part of a promotional tour of the women’s upcoming FA Women’s Super League Cup final at Barnet’s Underhill Stadium on Wednesday.

Children at the school have been offered free tickets to the game.

Deputy headteacher Sejal Patel said: “It is fantastic to have top class athletes come and visit so soon after the Olympics. There is that awe and amazement of seeing them and it makes it all real for them. They loved it.”