A BRAVE darts-mad Chard student had the thrill of his life when he went up to the oche to play world champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor.

Ben Stoker, 14, a year 9 pupil at Holyrood Community School, has had to learn to walk again after a serious hip operation resulted in him being off school for five months and wheelchair-bound.

But Ben has bravely fought back and had a massive surprise when he was invited to meet his idol.

Ben and his family went to Exeter West-point to watch some of the best darts players in competition and when Taylor heard about the young fan’s medical problems, he invited him to Bristol as his guest at an exhibition match.

But more was to come for Ben when he was ushered into the practice area where he met his hero and was played darts with him.

Taylor presented Ben with his own darts professional shirt, a set of darts and posed for a photo with the youngster which he duly signed.

Ben’s dad, Neil, said: “It was all credit to Phil as to how well Ben was treated. They fell over themselves to make the evening so memorable for him and in a time when top sportspeople can seem distant and aloof Phil was a total credit to himself and his sport.”

Ben now thinks it was the best night of his life – even better than when he was a mascot for Tottenham Hotspur two years ago.