Romford girl wins national competition with short story

Brittni won a £500 voucher for her school

A six-year-old girl from Romford has won a national competition with her short story.

Brittni D’Souza, who goes to St Edwards C of E Primary School, beat more than 2,500 children with her story ‘Hugo the Monster’ in Aquafresh’s Brush Time Tales competition.

The story is about a monster called Hugo who helps his best friend Amy receive a visit from the Tooth Fairy. The fairy then teaches Amy to look after her teeth properly.

Brittni with her story ‘Hugo the Monster’

Illustrations in Brittni’s winning story have been done by the Famous Five illustrator, Becka Moor.

St Edwards Primary School will also receive an Oxford Reading Tree voucher worth £500.

Brittni said: “It’s about the tooth fairy and a girl getting a present and the monster Hugo sending a letter to help her.”

With the competition being run by Aquafresh, she tells Time 107.5FM she is very good at remembering to look after her own teeth.

“Two times I brush my teeth, once in the morning before I go to school and once in the night.”

Brittni’s mum, Adriana, said: “When the headteacher told me she’d won, I couldn’t believe it, I was screaming on the phone.

“I’m so proud of her because her creativity has been recognised.

“Brittni loves to read. I think that’s where her creativity comes from. She’s always enjoyed reading even when she was very tiny.

“It’s one of the first academic things she took interest in.”

Becka Moor, who was also a competition judge, commented: “There were so many talented storytellers in this competition, it was really tough to whittle them down.

“Brittni is such a deserving winner and it was so much fun to bring her creative thinking to life.

“I hope this competition has sparked the storyteller in all the children who entered and they continue to explore this.”

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