How a Harborough schoolgirl's artwork touched the heart of Prime Minister Boris Johnson

A thrilled Market Harborough youngster has got an unforgettable thumbs up from Prime Minister Boris Johnson after she sent him pictures urging him to get better.

Kind-hearted Sophia Blyth posted her colourful masterpieces to Boris as he lay in a hospital bed fighting for his life after being struck down by the coronavirus.

The talented five-year-old and her family are now ecstatic after the grateful Premier shared Sophia’s heartfelt best wishes on social media with just a handful of other messages.

Sophia’s mum, Oriana Blyth, 35, told the Harborough Mail: “We are all absolutely amazed – and so delighted for Sophia!

“Poor Boris must have been inundated with thousands of cards and pictures from all over the UK, if not the world, when he was so ill.

“So to pick out Sophia’s drawings and share them across his Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts really is one in a million.”

The stunned mum-of-one added: “As you can imagine Sophia is as pleased as punch – she can’t believe it.

“We are just so proud of her and what she has done.

“We are all still on a real high, it’s just so incredible.”

Oriana, of Stuart Road, Market Harborough, told how Sophia put her best foot forward for the country’s PM in the middle of April.

“Sophia’s been very aware of the coronavirus situation here from the start – and this was all her own idea.

“She told us she wanted to send Boris a card wishing him all the best,” said Oriana, who works at Progress House Day Nursery on Northampton Road, Harborough.

“So she sat down and drew him a couple of pictures urging him to get well again and we sent them straight off to 10 Downing Street.

“We never thought any more about it to be honest.

“It was so thoughtful of her and she’d have done the same for anyone.

“She loves her art and she’ll spend hours drawing and colouring.”

Sophia’s dad Wayne, 38, who works at Fairway Seals on Fernie Road, Harborough, spotted his daughter’s brilliant handiwork had been showcased by the Prime Minister on Friday May 1.

“We wouldn’t have seen it but Wayne follows Boris on Twitter and Instagram.

“We were over the moon – it just seemed too good to be true,” said Oriana.

“We are just so proud that Sophia has been singled out by Boris because he liked her pictures so much.

“It was very scary at one stage because as well as being our prime minister, of course, Boris’s fiancée had a baby on the way and he was about to become a dad again.

“So we are so relieved he has pulled through and we wish the very best to everyone who’s got this terrible virus.”

One of Sophia’s works of art shows her staying at home with her mum and dad above a striking Union Jack-crowned rainbow saluting the NHS and Boris flying over No 10.

As the entire nation held its breath amid the terrifying life-and-death Covid-19 drama, her other picture urges: “To Boris, get well soon!

“Thank you for everything.”

Thanking Sophia among other children, Boris has posted on his social media feed: “Thank you for all the wonderful messages you sent me when I was unwell, and for all you are doing to keep yourselves and others safe.”

Oriana also praised Sophia’s school, Market Harborough C of E Academy on Fairfield Road.

“I can’t speak highly enough of them.

“It’s a wonderful school with a lovely ethos and they’ve really brought Sophia out of her shell,” she said.

“The teachers are great and they have helped us so much with home learning as well since the school had to close.”

Headteacher Emma Taylor told the Mail: “We are very proud of Sophia after she’s been personally honoured by Boris himself.

“This was a very caring, compassionate thing to do.

“Sophia’s a delightful pupil and we are very lucky to have such fantastic parents and children here at our school.”