CHILD slavery, child labour and homelessness were just some of the issues youngsters grilled their MP about when he visited their school.

Year 5 and 6 pupils at Marshwood Primary School welcomed West Dorset MP Sir Oliver Letwin on Friday.

The children had written to Sir Oliver regarding children's rights around the world as part of their unit of work on rights and responsibilities. He answered their questions about government policy on child slavery, child labour and homelessness both around the world and here in the UK. They also discovered what the job of being an MP representing West Dorset involves - something he revealed includes answering more than 15,000 letters and emails a year.

They found out that Sir Oliver felt his greatest achievement was being part of saving Lyme Regis from coastal erosion, but that he feels that he 'never truly finishes any goal he has set.'

Marshwood pupils also joined forces with children from Thorncombe St Mary's for an inspirational day of sailing at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on Portland.

They got to enjoy the thrill of sailing the three-person RS Zests, as they tacked between a series of buoys, alongside aspiring Olympic windsurfers, in perfect conditions. A great day was had by all the children under the instruction of staff from the Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre, with the visit made possible thanks to their 'Sail For a Fiver' scheme.

Before leaving, the instructors shared the important RNLI water safety message of 'Be Safe Have Fun', with the children told to always remember to stop and think, stay together, float and call 999/112 when around water.