'It's not everyday you get a thank you card from the Prime Minister!' - Harborough schoolgirl is delighted to get a personal message from Boris Johnson

An ecstatic Market Harborough schoolgirl has received a thank you card from Boris Johnson after she sent him get well pictures as he fought for his life.

Delighted Sophia Blyth said she was “very surprised and very happy” after the stunning note from the Prime Minister dropped through her letterbox straight from 10 Downing Street.

The artistic five-year-old posted her brilliant drawings to Boris as he lay critically ill in a hospital bed after being hit by the coronavirus.

Mr Johnson has now got in touch personally to say a big thank you after sharing Sophia’s best wishes on social media.

Asked how she reacted to getting his letter, shocked Sophia told the Harborough Mail: “I just went ‘wow, wow, wow!’

“I was very surprised to hear from the Prime Minister – I wasn’t expecting it.

“I love art and drawing – I could draw all day long – so I decided to do this for him.

“I’m just pleased that Boris loved my pictures and that he’s getting well again.”

Sophia’s beaming mum, Oriana Blyth, 35, said: “She’s so chuffed and we are all just so proud.

“It’s not every day that you get a thank you card from the Prime Minister!

“This is a once in a lifetime occasion and we are very grateful to Boris for thinking of Sophia at such a tough time.”

The mum-of-one said she’s aiming to give Boris’s heartfelt thanks pride of place in their home in Stuart Road, Market Harborough.

“This is so cool that we want to frame the Prime Minister’s letter and put it up in our house.

“We might display it in our dining room so that everyone can see it,” said Oriana, who works at Progress House Day Nursery on Northampton Road, Harborough.

“It’s incredible that Boris has got in touch after battling through the coronavirus as he leads our country in such difficult days.

“There is so much negativity about at the moment that it’s just great to have such a bright, positive story to talk and write about.

“Sophia deserves all the praise in the world – she’s such a kind, compassionate little girl.

“But her actions reflect very well, too, on our town and her school - Market Harborough C of E Academy on Fairfield Road.

“The school’s staff have a wonderful, generous, caring ethos and this thank you from Boris is very much for them as well.”

Married to equally proud dad Wayne, 38, she said last week’s front page piece telling Sophia’s story in the Harborough Mail had “blown away” her entire family.

“Sophia is very close to both sets of grandparents but unfortunately hasn’t been able to see them for a while because of the lockdown.

“They live in Market Harborough and dashed out to buy up every copy of the Harborough Mail as soon as it came out,” laughed Oriana.

“Wayne’s mum has already framed the Mail’s story and is going to hang it up in her home!”

And to put the icing on the cake, Harborough MP Neil O’Brien has now invited Sophia and her parents to the Houses of Parliament.

“It’s going to be very exciting and we can’t wait to go down and have a good look around when we can travel around again,” said Oriana.

“Who knows – we’ll maybe even get the chance to meet Boris himself!”

Neil told the Mail: “It was very kind of Sophia to wish Boris all the best and I know he was very touched.

“He was fighting for his life and close to the edge.

“So I’m sure that Sophia’s wonderful pictures helped to make his day.

“It will be a pleasure to take Sophia and her mum and dad on a special tour of Parliament as soon as we can.”

Boris has told Sophia in his letter: “Thank you so much for the wonderful message and good wishes you sent me when I was unwell.

“The letters and cards I received really cheered me up.”

The PM added: “As you may have heard, I’m back in 10 Downing Street now and feeling much better.

“Thank you also to you and your family for all you are doing to keep yourselves and others safe.”