A NATIONAL Special Olympics Gold Medallist visited a Droitwich School to talk to children about how it is OK to be different to other people.

Jess Hiles, who has learning and physical disabilities, spoke to pupils at Chawson First School about her condition, and achievements, and shared sections of her book Jess the Goth Fairy.

In 2014 Miss Hiles scooped a gold and silver medal at the Special Olympics and has recently become a member of the People's Parliament of Worcestershire.

Trudy Purser, who teaches at the school, said: "Jess has disabilities and she came to share the message of it is OK to be different. She came along with her mum and they talked to the children.

"All she [Jess] wants to do is help others. She has had to overcome a lot of things to get where she is now."

With her mum Jo Allmond, Miss Hiles drew on her own life experience to write Jess the Goth Fairy about a fairy with crooked wings who is bullied.

This year, the mum and daughter team have been visiting schools around the area, reading sections from the book and offering youngsters the chance to buy a signed copy.

Ms Purser said: "The children just loved it. It was very, very successful.

"It was really, really nice. The children really benefitted from it. I think they realise that people are different and and we are not to be afraid or worried about it and they are the same as everybody else.

"To actually have somebody come in and talk about it was really good.

"In all walks of life we do see lots of people with lots of different things - they might look different or they might act different so I think children need to be aware and we are all just part of the community and everybody else."

Class teacher Mrs Herbert said: "It is lovely for the children to see someone different and enable children to ask questions they wouldn't normally ask."

Pupil Emily Dutton, eight, said: "It was really sad that she was bullied for looking different but actually she was the same as everyone else."