In an age of email, text messages and social media, a traditional handwritten letter has been somewhat cast aside by more modern forms of communication.

Lowestoft Journal: Youngsters from Red Oak Primary school, Lowestoft have recieved many letters from celebrities after a letter writing project. Kelsie with her letter from Anthony Ogogo.Youngsters from Red Oak Primary school, Lowestoft have recieved many letters from celebrities after a letter writing project. Kelsie with her letter from Anthony Ogogo. (Image: (C)archant2015)

But children at one Lowestoft primary school have embraced the lost art of letter-writing.

For the past few months, seven to nine-year-old pupils at Red Oak Primary School have been putting their writing skills to good use in literacy lessons – and they have been rewarded with responses from some popular celebrities and star sporting names.

In October, the children at the school in Southwell Road began learning how to write and organise letters by using paragraphs and question marks.

The youngsters in years three and four were then given a task of writing to their favourite celebrity.

Lowestoft Journal: Youngsters from Red Oak Primary school, Lowestoft have recieved many letters from celebrities after a letter writing project.Youngsters from Red Oak Primary school, Lowestoft have recieved many letters from celebrities after a letter writing project. (Image: (C)archant2015)

This led to them approaching a number of famous people as they posed some questions to find out more about them.

And to their delight, the pupils received a number of interesting replies from, among others, Kensington Palace, 10 Downing Street and Old Trafford.

Johnny Lee, head of PE at the school, was teaching his year three and four class literacy in an English lesson.

He said: 'It was about October time, and I was teaching the children about how to write letters and organise them using paragraphs and question marks.

Lowestoft Journal: Youngsters from Red Oak Primary school, Lowestoft have recieved many letters from celebrities after a letter writing project.Youngsters from Red Oak Primary school, Lowestoft have recieved many letters from celebrities after a letter writing project. (Image: (C)archant2015)

'I decided I would get them to write to their favourite celebrity, and then I just thought: 'Why don't I try and send the letters off to see if they reply?''

As well as learning the children the importance of grammar, organisational writing skills and using neat handwriting as they penned the letters, Mr Lee said: 'We talked about why letter-writing is important, and while it was the first time we had attempted something like this we will do it again next year.'

Mr Lee said he got the idea for sending letters off to the famous people after recalling the happiness he felt when he wrote a letter to his favourite footballer when he was younger.

'I wrote a letter to Roy Keane (ex-Manchester United captain) and I remember being so happy when I got a letter back,' he admitted.

'So it was really exciting for the children.

'I would tell the class that my friend the postman had been to visit, and there was a lot of tension around the classroom as the letters arrived and we read out the replies,' he added.

'We have created a display at the school, and soon t he children will take the original letters home with them.'

? Have you got an education story? Email mark.boggis@archant.co.uk or call him on 01502 525833.