A boy from Epsom has become one of the UK's youngest published authors after winning a story book competition.

Tom Burlison, a seven-year-old from Epsom, scooped the top prize for his beautifully written story about a week in the lives of two young friends walking to school.

The Bedtime Story Competition was run by online book sellers The Book People, who revealed that The Incredible Journey was first story Tom has ever written and was chosen from more than 1,000 entries submitted to the competition.

In the story, the protagonist Elliot is shown the wonders of imagination by his schoolmate Ruby as the pair walk to school each day, creating mesmerizing tales on their own incredible journeys.

Surrey Comet: Panel from The Incredible Journey by Tom Burlison. Image: Book People’s Bedtime Story CompetitionPanel from The Incredible Journey by Tom Burlison. Image: Book People’s Bedtime Story Competition

Speaking to the Comet, Michelle Pollard, the head of Epsom Primary School, said that everyone at the school had been buoyed by Tom's achievement.

"Tom came to see me and said that he'd been shortlisted in the competition and that was fantastic in itself with lots of entrants and the fact that he's only seven.

"Then he came back again and said he'd won the whole thing and that was really exciting — we're all so excited for him," Mrs Pollard said.

Describing Tom as "quiet, gentle and very creative," the new author's head teacher added that the win had already helped encourage Tom's assertiveness.

"It's really boosted his confidence. All his friends are really excited for him too which is great.

"We went on BBC Breakfast on Sunday... it was fantastic for him. I found the whole experience a bit more daunting than he did," Mrs Pollard joked.

Surrey Comet: Panel from The Incredible Journey by Tom Burlison. Image: Book People’s Bedtime Story CompetitionPanel from The Incredible Journey by Tom Burlison. Image: Book People’s Bedtime Story Competition

The head teacher revealed that broadcast news teams from major UK outlets had also descended on the school in recent days as interest in Tom's success snowballed on Monday (June 17).

She added that the theme of The Incredible Journey — of children being creatively inspired by the world around them — was a crucial message they worked to promote at the school.

"Tom's story is all about imagination and creativity and I really feel they are so important for children and the curriculum doesn't always reflect that and so our staff are always very keen to try and maintain that approach," Mrs Pollard said.

Tom's winning story will be sold exclusively on bookpeople.co.uk, with 35 per cent of the profits from the sale of each book being donated to Save the Children.

The Incredible Journey by Tom Burlison is available for £4.99 on The Book People's website: www.thebookpeople.co.uk/theincrediblejourney