PUPILS from from Arthur Bugler Primary School were thrilled to attend the BBC 500 Words Final at Buckingham Palace yesterday (Wednesday 26 February).

The event, which celebrates young writing talent, saw the students in the company of Queen Camilla, as well as a host of renowned celebrities.

The BBC 500 Words competition encourages children to write short stories and showcases the creativity of young minds across the UK.

This year, Arthur Bugler Primary School on St James Ave Stanford-le-Hope, had the honour of being part of the exclusive audience at the final, after 19 of their children were shortlisted into the first round of the national competition!

Lucy Cordell, a teacher at Arthur Bugler Primary and BBC 500 Words enthusiast said: "On behalf of everyone at Arthur Bugler Primary, I just want to say how incredibly proud we all are of our pupils for taking part in the BBC 500 Words, and everything they have achieved as a result.

"Their enthusiasm towards the project has no bounds, and they should all be incredibly proud of every single story they have written, and will write in the future.

"Always remember when you dream big, remarkable things can happen".

Lucy added: "The BBC 500 Words Final is a reminder of the importance of nurturing creativity in young learners, and the pupils of Arthur Bugler Primary School were able to see first hand how their passion for writing can make a significant impact."

The final will be televised on BBC 1 on Friday, 7 March at 4pm and winners will be announced on the The One Show that evening.