Tommy Emmanuel dropped in at South Tyneside College to perform and chat to students at its St George’s Avenue campus in South Shields on Saturday.

The Australian maestro formed close ties with the college after a visit two years ago.

He hit it off with staff and happily agreed to return after being contacted a second time.

About 90 students crammed into a lecture theatre to see the 57-year-old, in the region for a date at The Sage Gateshead on Friday night as part of a world tour.

Music lecturer Brian Morton said he hoped Emmanuel’s visit would help inspire the college’s current generation of students to excel.

He said: “He really is a fabulous musician, a superlative talent and one of the best players in the world.

“Last time he was here, he helped inspire the students to be the best they can possibly be and I’m sure that’s exactly what will happen this time round.

“For the students to be able to hear first hand from someone like Tommy that they can achieve great things in music is an incredible experience for them.

“He has a God-given talent for playing the guitar. He is absolutely top of the tree.”

Emmanuel’s roll call of fame includes recording with Air Supply and Men at Work, having his songs covered by Olivia Newton-John, Al Jarreau and Sheena Easton, and playing at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

And he also performed on Michael Jackson’s posthumous record, Michael, contributing a solo to the album’s closing track, Much Too Soon.

Born into a musical family and given his first guitar as a four-year-old, Emmanuel’s unique style is similar to that of a pianist, playing with all 10 fingers.

Rather than using a whole band for melody, rythm, bass, and drum parts, he plays them all on one guitar.

Twitter: @shieldsgazpaul