Children have been encouraged to think very hard about who helps and supports them most in their lives and each wrote a letter to that person.

The teachers at Broadford School in Faringdon Avenue, Harold Hill, asked their pupils who inspired them and who they were most grateful to.

Each child then wrote down the words to say thank you to that person as part of a University of Birmingham initiative which asked students across the country to write the letters.

Nine-year-old Chloe Trew said: “I chose to write a letter to Usain Bolt because he has inspired me to take up running.

“I saw him compete on TV and learnt that he had a very ordinary childhood, which made me believe I could achieve it if I really tried.”

Chloe’s letter, and those of Finley Livingstone and Ellie Jo Stapleton, were judged to be the best school entries and have been put forward for a nationwide competition.

These pupils were then shortlisted for the national awards ceremony.

Assistant headteacher, Verity Hoffman, said: “We were overwhelmed by the response for what is really a very simple idea. To have our pupils shortlisted for a national prize showed how mature and thoughtful their responses were.”