On the steps of No 10

Matthew Booker, nine, and Thana Dawson, 10, both from Chesswood Middle School, Worthing, and Arzhia Habibi, from King's Manor Community College, Shoreham, also had a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament with MP Tim Loughton.

The East Worthing and Shoreham MP took the three children around Portcullis House, where the MPs have their offices, and then Parliament before taking them to Downing Street.

Matthew, from Sompting, said: "When we got inside, we went up the famous staircase into the Pillared Room, where we had drinks and cakes.

"Cherie Blair came to talk to us and asked if we were having a nice time. We also had our picture taken with her and she signed a postcard for us."

Thana, from Worthing, added: "She was very kind. She said you must be very happy to be here."

Matthew added: "Then we looked around the other rooms and we sat at the big table in the state dining room. In one of the rooms there were some small pieces of moon rock in a plastic cover for people to look at.

"Then it was time to go home and we were given a souvenir booklet of No.10 to keep."

The trio were winners in a Herald competition organised after Mr Loughton was asked to find three worthy youngsters from his constituency for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

During their time in London they met Tory leader Michael Howard and saw the Queen and Prince Phillip, who were in Westminster for a service commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day.

The youngsters saw the Queen get into the Royal car '“ the only vehicle in the country which does not have a licence plate.

There are almost five miles of corridors in Parliament and as they were walking through Westminster the youngsters also saw David Blunkett, the Archbishop of Canterbury,

Rowan Williams, and former Foreign Secretary Lord Howe.

Mr Loughton also took the children onto the terrace, where he showed them the London Eye and pointed out other landmarks along the Thames, including the MI6 building.

He also told the children of the day when the James Bond film crew were filming the opening sequence from Tomorrow Never Dies, along the Thames, and the MPs thought the explosions were real.