THE Queen has given the Royal seal of approval to a group of primary school youngsters who sent her a collection of their work.

The children, from Timothy Hackworth Primary School, in Shildon, spent weeks researching the history of the Royal Family and the role of the Queen.

Afterwards the group, who have speech and language difficulties, decided to write to the Queen to congratulate her on her golden jubilee and tell her about the picnic they had planned to celebrate the anniversary.

Teacher at the language resource base, Sue Kowal, said: "Some of the children sent letters, some sent pictures and some did a combination.

"Such a lot of hard work went into it and the children were absolutely thrilled when we received a reply.''

The letter, from the Queen's Lady in Waiting, thanked the children, who are aged between six and 11, for their kind thoughts on the monarch's golden jubilee.

She said: "The Queen wishes me to thank you all for the letters and drawings you sent on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee.

"Her Majesty greatly appreciates your thought in writing to her and hopes that you had a very happy jubilee picnic.''

Mrs Kowal said: "It did not take long to get a reply, about three or four weeks, and it was such a personal letter.

"It is so lovely to receive a reply from Buckingham Palace. To think that someone received our letters and thought it appropriate to reply to us."