A best-selling children’s author has sent a letter to a young budding writer from Cornwall.

Charley Franklin-Sitch, aged 11, was so excited to receive the mail from David Walliams, after reading nearly every single one of his books.

The Year 7 student from Pool Academy has dreams of becoming a writer herself and has already penned her first book at home. After filling her bookcases with the author’s stories she decided to write to him – but didn’t expect a reply.

She said: “In my letter I told him that I liked his ideas and said I had read nearly all his books, except for a few, and I wanted him to write some more.

“I sent off the letter two weeks ago but I didn’t think I would hear back from him.

“He said thank you for writing and that he was pleased I enjoyed his books. He gave me a top tip to becoming an author; remember to be original.”

The first David Walliams book Charley ever read was Demon Dentist and since then she has been hooked.

She said: “I have been a fan of his books since I was nine years old. The first time I read his book I thought it was adventurous and very imaginative.”

Charley says she will be keeping his signed letter somewhere safe and will continue with her writing.