To mark Black History Month students invited a street artist to their school to paint a portrait of the late actor Terry Sue Patt.

Frederick Bremer Secondary School, in Siddeley Road, Walthamstow, hosted David “Gnasher” Nash, whose work is internationally recognised, on Thursday October 20.

Mr Sue Patt, who died at his flat in Walthamstow in May 2015, aged 50, is best known for playing Benny Green in television series Grange Hill.

Headteacher Jenny Smith said: “It is important for us to acknowledge the great contribution the black community has made to British and London life and our society in general.

“I would like to get to a place where we didn’t have to have these events but unfortunately there is discrimination in our society.

“I remember watching Terry Sue Patt in Grange Hill and it was the first time I saw on the tv a real representation of what London looked like.

“The students are very proud and they gave a spontaneous applause for the artist when the painting was completed.”

Based on a fictional school in North London during the 70s and 80s, Grange Hill explored issues such as bullying, teenage pregnancy, racism and drug addiction.

Mr Sue Patt was one of the first teenage black actors to appear in such a popular series reaching audiences of up to 12 million viewers.

Later, Terry starred in football fans’ film The Firm and in the comedy series Desmond’s, which explored the dramas of a London Afro-Caribbean barber shop.

He went on to became an accomplished stencil and collage artist, influenced by the original street artists of New York.

Mr Nash’s portrait of the actor will be on show at Frederick Bremer School until a home for it can be found in Walthamstow High Street.