An eight-year-old girl who loves creative writing and reading stories has been given a Blue Peter badge for a poem she wrote about lockdown.

Sophia Upton who goes to Leybourne's St Peter and St Paul Primary Academy penned 'This time next year' in March as a way of keeping positive through the pandemic.

The Year 4 pupil has always enjoyed writing but found a particular comfort from the rhythm of words during the first lockdown when her entire routine changed, something like many youngsters she struggled to come to terms with.

Her mother Nadia Upton, 44, explained: "During the first lockdown Sophia would often cry for no reason.

"I think it was a shock to her system because she is always sociable and all of a sudden I had to explain to her she can no longer see her friends.

"When she wrote the poem as part of her English homework she started finding comfort in words."

With the start of February marking Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, Mrs Upton wants to show how powerful reading and writing can be in helping children like Sophia who are introverted.

She said: "She doesn't have mental health issues but lockdown did take its toll on her."

"Writing is a form of escapism that can really help kids and I want people to know it can be just as beneficial to young minds as sport."

Sophia was so proud of her poem, Mrs Upton sent it to the producers at Blue Peter after seeing an appeal at the end of the T.V show.

A few months later, when a letter came through the post revealing her badge and letter, the youngster was 'jumping for joy' and couldn't wait to tell her teachers, Mrs Pattanshetti, Mrs Wardle and Mrs Ward who have encouraged her writing, all about the achievement.

It even caught the eye of her favourite author Michael Rosen who retweeted the words to his followers on social media.

Although a year on the world may not quite be as she expected, Sophia is now feeling better about the current situation and has so many creative ideas, she has even started writing her own book.

It's about a creature called Jakawaka who lives in 'normal times' without face masks.

Sophia's father Graham, 51, also won a Blue Peter badge 40 years ago for a poster design for the Natural History Museum.

The two badges will sit together proudly on display in frames in the Upton family home.

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