TWO West Devon students met Cherie Blair for tea last week — within hours of the announcement that the Prime Minister's wife is expecting her fourth child.

Tamsyn Gillan from Tavistock College and Christian Crowther-Smith from Okehampton College caught a glimpse of life at the top at 10 Downing Street after travelling to London at the invitation of West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett.

A small all-party group of MPs, including Mr Burnett, was contacted by Mrs Blair's office a month ago and asked to find students who would like to visit Number 10.

'We wrote to the three largest colleges in the constituency and left it to them,' said Mr Burnett.

Tamsyn, Christian and Barbara Ellis, a pupil from Bideford College, also had a whistle-stop tour of the Houses of Parliament and supper in the Commons.

'All three students were extremely interested in everything,' said Mr Burnett. 'It was actually just hours before they announced Mrs Blair's pregnancy. She came round and spoke to everyone — she looked relaxed and very well.

'One way and another it was a thoroughly enjoyable day — it was a great pleasure for me to have them there,' he said.

Graham Stoate of Tavistock College said pupils were asked to write a letter stating why they would like to take part in the visit — Tamsyn's letter was 'particularly impressive'.

Tamsyn, who is 16, said: 'It was a really nice day — it wasn't very formal, and Cherie herself came across as a really nice person.'

She said the tea party was 'packed' but that Mrs Blair still made the effort to talk to everyone.

GCSE student Tamsyn, whose ambition is to go into the diplomatic service abroad, was accompanied by her father on the trip.

Christian Crowther-Smith, 17, aims to study politics next year at university.

He said his visit to Downing Street had re-affirmed his ambition — maybe even to get to the top.

'I would like to live in that house,' he said.

'Looking around the Prime Minister's house was really interesting — we saw the gold roof that Mrs Thatcher put up and all the photos of past prime ministers.'

Christian said he talked to Mrs Blair about his studies and what he hoped to do and found her 'really natural'.

As for the Prime Minister, the teenager only got a glimpse when he came out of one of the cabinet rooms after an interview with TV journalist Jeremy Paxman.

'It was quite exciting to be there,' he said.

l Regular trips to the Houses of Parliament are arranged for school children by Mr Burnett.

Any West Devon headteacher interested in these opportunities should contact the constituency office on 01837 55881.