Schoolgirl takes her fears over war to the top (From Gazette & Herald)

Schoolgirl takes her fears over war to the top

A NORTH Yorkshire schoolgirl is so worried about the war that she has gone straight to the top with her concerns.

Jenny Hyde, from West Heslerton, penned letters to US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair after seeing TV pictures of the fighting.

The eight-year-old, a pupil at West Heslerton County Primary, said: "I was watching the news with my mum and I found that I knew quite a bit about it afterwards, so I sat down and wrote a letter."

Jenny was born in Oman in the Middle East, and has lived in West Africa and the Philippines, where her three-year-old brother was born.

"I can remember what it was like because I have lots of photos of the places we have been," said Jenny.

"If we had still been there, then lots of things would be different.

"I would hate to see it really get damaged."

Jenny wrote in her letter that she thought the innocent people of Iraq didn't deserve what was happening to them.

But she also wrote how important it was to support the troops, who must also be very frightened.

Mum Alison said: "We are really proud of her.

"We had been watching TV and she went upstairs and just did it.

"She came back down an hour later and showed us it, it was just fantastic.

"Jenny's lived abroad for a lot of her life, and I think that means she has an affinity for people in other countries. She is a bit of a thinker."

Updated: 15:30 Wednesday, April 02, 2003