THIS year’s gold award at BBC Radio2’s 500 words competition was won by seven-year-old Evan Boxall, grandson of Liphook stalwart Irene Ellis.

The winner was announced during a live broadcast of the Chris Evans Breakfast Show from Hampton Court, followed by comedian and author David Walliams reading out Evan’s story The Poo Fairy live on air.

The event was also attended by The Duchess of Cornwall, who is a keen supporter of the competition, after she first hosted the 500 Words final at St James’s Palace, in 2015.

She became the first-ever royal to be animated when she starred in the 500 words launch film in 2016, now acting as the annual children’s literary contest’s Fairy Godmother, sitting on the panel as honorary judge.

Evan’s entry was chosen by a panel of celebrity authors including Horrid Henry author Francesca Simon, actor Charlie Higson who wrote The Young Bond and The Enemy book series, as well as Majorie Blackman, who held the position of Children’s Laureate from 2013-15, primarily writing literature and television drama for children and young adults).

The final member of the panel was screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who is also a novelist and actor, known for his children’s fiction.

He praised Evan and called the Poo Fairy story “a brilliantly silly concept” that was “rigorously thought-through, full of great jokes but coming to a thoughtful, insightful conclusion”.

He added: “A really mature and accomplished piece of storytelling.”

Evan, who spent the day at Hampton Court with his family, won a ride in the car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, taking him around the palace grounds and went on the Queen’s row barge ‘Gloriana’ on the river Thames for lunch with the famous DJ and the other winners.

Additionally, he will get Chris Evans’ height in books for himself as well as 500 books for his school, Red Hill, in Worcester.

Grandma Irene, chairman of the award winning Liphook Community Laundry, mum Mel and Liphook born-and-bred dad Chris supported Evan on his special day and told The Herald: “We are delighted and very proud proud of his achievements.

“We spent the morning at Hampton Court Palace for the live final and it was really exciting, when his story was ready out by David Walliams.

He loved his trips round the grounds in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and on the Queen’s barge with Chris Evans. The whole event was really special for Evan and for all of us as well.”

The competition is open to five to 13 years olds and is supported by Oxford University Press.