Message in a battle

Sting: I'm behind nurses & teachers on pay

- JEREMY ARMSTRONG

STING has backed teachers and nurses in their pay dispute with the Government.

The 71-year-old ex-primary teacher spoke on a visit to his native Tyneside.

On Thursday he played at Newcastle's Live Theatre with fellow Geordies Alan Shearer, 52, and Jimmy Nail, 69, watching.

The Mirror met him before a fundraiser to mark the 50th anniversary of the theatre.

He told us: "Teaching is one of the most important jobs in our society in my view.

"As well as nurses and many of those professions, they need to be paid well and it is a disgrace that they are not. I very much support them in their dispute."