A YOUNG Tavistock schoolgirl has joined the ranks of the famous — and collected some impressive autographs — by being published in a poetry anthology created by TV actress Pippa Haywood.

The imagery of the piece written by Cecily Haywood, 8, a pupil of Mount House School, was considered to be sufficiently moving to be included in 'Poems for Refugees' — an anthology in response to the events of September 11.

Pippa, whose face is familiar to millions for her part in The Brittas Empire, Office Gossip and recently The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, said the book will be sold in aid of War Child to suport their relief work in Afghanistan.

'A news item showing Afghan children digging for grains of wheat that rats had buried so that they could eat prompted me to want to take action,' said Pippa, a regular visitor to Tavistock because she has friends and relatives in the area.

She approached colleagues in the arts inviting them to suggest a poem and explain why they chose it for the anthology.

'People are always asking for memorabilia and photos or your time or your money — it is unusual to give a poem!'

She says she happened to 'hit a note of common sympathy — people wanted to support the Afghan people.'

Once Pippa had called friends in the arts they inturn suggested other people to contact. Pippa also did some 'cold calling' to theatrical agencies and found everyone very keen to be a part of the project. The result is a total of 109 poems in the anthology with reasons for their choice.

She was initially going to have half the book containing poems written by children but contacting schools was logistically difficult.

In the end there are two — one by a group of pupils from Sudbourne School in Brixton where she lives, and the other from Cecily because Pippa was so impressed by the content.

The youngsters are now in the rarified company of poetic luminaries like Shakespeare and W H Auden picked by famous names which include Dame Jiudi Dench, Bono, Stephen Fry and Tom Stoppard.

'I think the children's pieces stand up extremely well alongside the adult ones. They write staight from the heart with such truth,' said Pippa.

'I think Cecily touched on a point that you celebrate and hold on to what is important to you in a dangerous situation. She is reflecting on what is precious to her and what she has around her and what the refugees do not.'

Cecily said she had seen a lot about the war on television and thought it was very important to try and help the victims in some way.

'I did my best to write a good poem,' she said.

'I have written quite a few poems — but I have never had one published before.'

She said both she and her family were delighted.

And as well as being published Cecily was invited to the recent launch party at the Groucho Club in London where she was thrilled to meet the celebrities and ask for the autographs.

l Tomorrow (Friday) Pippa will be doing a book signing at Bookstop in Market Street Tavistock between 11am and 1pm.