A JUNIOR school enjoyed a special visit from a cycling star after a pupil wrote to the sports star.

Baddow Hall Junior School was delighted to welcome Professional Road Racer, Alex Dowsett on a visit after Beatrice Spall-Burrell, 8, wrote to him asking him to come and talk to the pupils about his achievements and his work with Little Bleeders, the charity supporting children with haemophilia.

Headteacher Guy Niven said: “We were delighted to welcome such a talented local sportsman to the school, he was such an inspiration to the children not only in terms of sporting achievement but in overcoming adversity by showing grit and resilience, a great role model for the children to aspire to.”