PUPILS from Pershore had a day they will never forget when they had tea and biscuits with the Prime Minister's wife, Cherie Blair.

Pershore High School students Adam Gordon, Richard Jefferies, Izzy Sanders and Stephen Maughan joined teacher Graham Finch for a trip to Westminster last Wednesday, that began with a 5.45am train from Pershore Station.

The group were travelling to London to pick up awards for their success in this year's Youth Parliament Competition and the trip didn't disappoint.

Arriving in Westminster at around 9am, the first port of call was the Houses of Parliament, where the team were given a guided tour of both the commons and the lords.

Adam Gordon said: "The highlight of the day for me was when we were taken around the Houses of Parliament. The guide told us about many interesting things, including the throne in the House of Lords, a whole wall of golden decorations around a carved throne, it was incredible.

"Sir Michael Spicer, the West Worcestershire MP, also met us and we had drinks in his office and we were also shown where the cabinet sit to talk."

Izzy Sanders added: "When I stood on the makeshift dispatch box in our school mock parliament, I never thought in my wildest dreams that only a few months later, I would be standing in the real House of Commons.

"The House of Commons and House of Lords are both smaller than they look on television and I learned a couple of very interesting facts.

"MPs and Peers are not allowed to die in the Palace of Westminster and if someone should pass away, they are put into an ambulance and only proclaimed dead when they are off the premises.

Additionally, the tradition of Conservative MPs rubbing the bronze foot of Sir Winston Churchill has been banned because there is now a hole in it."

Among those presenting the awards on the day were David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party and Menzies Campbell the leader of the Liberal Democrats. Richard Jefferies accepted the award for Best Prime Minister's Questions from the Lord Chancellor and Izzy Sanders accepted the award for Best Opposition Front Bencher on behalf of the absent Sam Fowles.

The Pershore pupils also enjoyed a taste of a real parliamentary debate, when they sat in on Prime Minister's Questions.

Richard Jefferies said: "Following the tour we were off to Prime Minister's Question Time. It was great to watch from behind the three-quarter inch thick, bulletproof glass screen, as Tony Blair and David Cameron made jibes at each other.

"Last but most certainly not least was tea and biscuits at number 10 Downing Street with the Prime minister's wife, Cherie Blair, who made the pupils feel very welcome and it topped off the day nicely for Stephen Maughan.

He said: "Cherie Blair was very nice and approachable and made us all welcome. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister was unable to be there.

"It was surprising to find that Number 10 felt like a family home and when we attended the reception in the garden there were lots of their son' Leo's toys everywhere, including a trampoline and climbing frame.

"I feel very honoured and privileged to have been chosen to visit Westminster and the memories will stay with me for the rest of my life."

Graham Finch added: "I am enormously proud of the achievements of all students involved in the Youth Parliament this year.

"They all acquitted themselves magnificently and the four who came to Westminster were fantastic ambassadors for the school."