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Jessica says winning is a real hoot!

28/12/2001

THE winner of a festive writing competition certainly blew her own trumpet when she visited McDonald's for a school party.

But as the youngsters of Adlington Primary School made merry with party hooters and Christmas crackers, the sounds of celebration were too much for teachers and restaurant staff.

Jessica Paul, seven, won the meal for her entire class at the Mill Street restaurant after she entered a competition organised by McDonald's and the Macclesfield Express.

She said: "I really enjoyed the party. When we blew the hooters, they said, 'Stop it' - because it was too loud!"

And teacher Caroline Finlayson said: "The staff certainly knew we had arrived. It was a horrendous noise!

"We had to take the hooters off the children until they got back to school."

The youngsters took over a quarter of the restaurant after Jessica touched competition judges' hearts with her illustrated story of a kind fairy.

In the tale, the fairy performs a miracle on an ill child, and revives them as a Christmas present for her brother.

The meal was awarded to the school as part of Jessica's prize, which included £100 to spend on games and books for her classroom.

And during a special day-trip to Macclesfield, famous clown Ronald McDonald visited Adlington School to present the cheque and party invitation.

Caroline said the children had a wonderful time at the party.

She said: "It was amazing. The staff at McDonald's were extremely generous with the competition's prizes."