Television personality and mathematician, Johnny Ball, stopped into a primary school as they prepare to take on the capital's best and brightest in a London-wide maths challenge.

Ball was at Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Battersea, for World Maths Day on Wednesday.

As ambassador for the Mayor’s Fund for London, Ball inspired school children to take part in a new maths challenge using the 24® Game, as part of the Count on Us numeracy programme.

The school will enter a team of three of their best maths students in the Count on Us Challenge at City Hall at the end of April.

Fifty two London schools have entered the challenge with the top 13 to attend the final hosted by Johnny Ball, in June.

The game consists of a pack of cards, with four numbers under ten on each which, in varying degrees of difficulty, equate to 24.

Students need to use their maths skills to solve as many of the cards as possible in the time given.

Head teacher, Jared Brading said the school use the game in class to get children thinking.

He said: "The Count on Us Challenge has encouraged our students to see maths in a different way."

Ball said: "An understanding that maths is both fun and empowering is one of the most important things we can teach young people today.

"I am delighted to be working with the Mayor’s Fund for London to support their Count on Us programme."