Holly Martin from Pyworthy, has been awarded first prize in a letter writing competition run by Royal Mail. Holly beat off some stiff competition from pupils at schools across the region to take the top prize.

Youngsters were asked to write to their First Class hero and Holly, aged eight, who attends Pyworthy School, wrote to 'the best Grandma in the world'. Holly wrote about how brave her Grandma is being whilst she is poorly and about all the things they do together.

Judges were impressed by the standard of entries and had a difficult task to pick just one winner in each of three categories.

Mark Ellis, Royal Mail's Regional Director, who visited the school to present her prizes said: "Holly has written a lovely letter to a very personal hero, her Grandma. Holly presented her letter beautifully and is a very deserving winner of the first prize."

The competition encouraged children to write a letter with a purpose to their hero or heroine, demonstrating imagination and creativity within a basic letter format.

Children from schools in Devon, Cornwall, Bristol and Dorset were shortlisted for writing some inspired letters to first class heroes, which included soldiers, cartoon characters, family members, authors, TV and sports stars and even pets.