VIDEO: Blurton schoolgirl's design is fit for the Queen

TALENTED schoolgirl Angelika Wimalasooriya is off to Buckingham Palace – after designing a cup and saucer fit for the Queen.

The 12-year-old was chosen as the winner of a contest to create crockery to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

Angelika – who was competing against children from all over the country – will now visit the royal household to present the finished ware, which has been produced by Burslem-based Moorcroft Pottery.

Angelika, who attends Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy in Blurton, said: "A lot of thought went into the design.

"I take art after school so I really enjoyed doing it."

Angelika, from Blurton, was among 20 finalists selected by the Tea for the Jubilee judging panel.

She will also be able to keep a cup and saucer for herself and a third set will take pride of place in the Potters' Club.

Angelika's teacher Amy Rennison said: "She is a brilliant pupil. The children came up with designs for homework and a lot of them embraced it"

As part of the prize, the school also received a £2,500 cheque to spend on books and equipment.

Angelika's delighted mum Ramani Jayakody, aged 46, said: "I am so very proud of my daughter. She is always designing things in her free time, she has a real talent for it."

In the senior category, second and third place went to Ormiston pupils, Lizzie Barnish and Rebecca Yewdell.

The winner in the junior category was Becky McGrath, aged nine, from Newton Primary School in Chester, and second prize went to Lily Barrs, from Grove Junior School, Longton, while third place went to nine-year-old Callum Oakden from St Paul's CE Primary School in Longton.

Elise Adams, managing director of Moorcroft Pottery, said: "We got a sneak preview of the finalists and had some input into the decision. One of the designs we recommended was Angelika's."

Kevin Oakes, chairman of the British Ceramic Gift and Tableware Manufacturers' Association, presented the prizes at a special ceremony yesterday.

He said: "Angelika's design was exquisitely well drawn.

"We saw an element of fun and relevance to the customer.

"So many people think that Stoke-on-Trent doesn't have any pottery anymore but that's not the case."

All of the finalists were given goody bags containing gifts from ceramic companies including Royal Stafford, Denby, Steelite and Churchill.

Angelika and Becky will now visit Buckingham Palace on January 21.