Letter straight from the heart

The competition was open to primary age children

A 10-year-old boy who made his teaching assistant cry with his charming letter to her, has become the Royal Mail's Young Letter Writer of the Year 2003.

Jack Smoothy from Yate in South Gloucestershire, who attends St Mary's School, wrote a thank you letter to his teaching assistant Jane Gale.

"You give me cuddles when I'm good. And stickers when I am clever," the letter said.

The competition attracted entries from thousands of primary school children.

Prizes were presented by Fearne Cotton of CBBC, at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London on Monday.

'I miss you'

Jack's letter was entered in Royal Mail's 27th Young-Letter Writers competition in the Special Achievement category.

Adam Crozier, Royal Mail's Chief Executive, who presented the awards, said: "It's a wonderful letter and I'm not surprised it made Jack's teaching assistant cry when she read it.

"It is very simple, written from the heart and is an example of clear communication at its best.

"It is so reassuring that in an age of emails and text messaging, children still love to write a letter on paper."

The full letter read:

"Dear Mrs Gale

Thanks for helping me.

"You help me with my numeracy and literacy. You are very kind and very patient with me when I'm silly. You give me cuddles when I'm good. And stickers when I am clever. I think you are very clever because you always have a sharp pencil and rubbers for me to borrow.

"You keep my tray tidy and explain the work to me I think you are very pretty and I love you. And I miss you when you are away. From Jack."