Young story tellers have visited the Westminster Abbey resting place of one of Ruthin's most influential sons.

The six competition winners won the trip to London after writing a short story on the life of Gabriel Goodman - the sixteenth century Dean of Westminster and founder of Ruthin School and Christ’s Hospital.

The children - Erin Beech Jones and Math Humphreys from Ysgol Pen Barras, Xander Johnson and Ruby Mann from Rhos Street School and Phoebe Astles and Ebony Jones from Ysgol Borthyn - were accompanied by six adults, including warden of competition organisers St Peter’s Church Reverend Stuart Evans.

Mr Evans said: “For most of the winners this was their first ever visit to London, so we wanted to ensure they’d remember it for the rest of their lives.

“We had an amazing time in Westminster Abbey, seeing spaces not usually open to the public."

The group also paid a visit the Houses of Parliament, complete with a tour led by Clwyd West MP, David Jones.

Mr Evans added: “It was a busy day in the House of Commons with lots of votes on Brexit, so we’ll be able to look back and remember that we were in the Chamber as the historic debates were taking place.”

Mr Jones, said: “Gabriel Goodman was one of Ruthin’s most influential sons, and I was very interested to hear about the prize-winners’ stories. In turn, I told them of the great pair of bells that he presented to Westminster Abbey, which, even today, I can hear from my office in the House.”

The group enjoyed a meeting with the current Dean of Westminster Abbey, Dr John Hall at his home, where the portrait of Gabriel Goodman hangs, and showed the children his collection of artefacts received from dignitaries from around the world.

As well as meeting people and seeing places, the children also took a ride in a London taxi and experienced the London Underground for the first time.

Mr Evans said:“For most of the winners this was their first ever visit to London, so we wanted to ensure they’d remember it for the rest of their lives."

Miss Mann, 10, said: “The best part of the day was meeting the MP and finding out about his job and what he does.

"I told him I’d like to be an MP one day.”