TEN-year-old Nadice Jarrett has always had strong opinions and a lot to say for herself, so it was no surprise to her mother when she wrote a letter to Tony Blair.

But what did amaze her was a reply from the Prime Minister arriving at their home in Elm Street, Bury, just a few weeks later.

The youngster learned about the Make Poverty History campaign from her mother and decided to write a letter.

She told Mr Blair how concerned she is about hunger and poverty in Africa, and asked him to do more to help people in developing countries.

Her mother Ann Byrne said: "I always tell Nadice about the problems in Africa and that she shouldn't waste food. It upsets her to know that so many people are suffering. She feels very strongly about it, but I was still surprised when she said she had written to the Prime Minister. She wrote it by herself and I still have no idea what was in the letter."

A few weeks after sending the letter, Nadice, who attends Our Lady and St Paul's Primary School in Darnhill, Heywood, received a reply from Mr Blair on embossed paper from Downing Street. In the correspondence, he thanked her for the letter and said he was continuing to fight against poverty, along with the Government and the leaders of other G8 countries.

Miss Byrne said: "Nadice was really proud of herself when she got the letter, and I'm very proud of her as well. It was a shock when it arrived, but it shows that Tony Blair does read the letters he receives and listens to what people have to say. It is difficult to understand why we have so much and other countries have so little, and I hope Nadice's letter helps to make a difference."