PUPILS from Oxfordshire schools had a brush with aristocracy when they had tea with the Duke of Marlborough at his Woodstock home Blenheim Palace.

The children were invited to the country estate because they were among the winners of the Duke's annual heritage education prizes. The Oxford Times is to sponsor the coming year's awards.

The schools were asked to create a project inspired by Blenheim Palace after enjoying a tour of the historic building and grounds.

Two prizes were awarded to Bladon Primary School in Bladon, while Brookside Primary School, Bicester; Combe Primary School, Combe; Queensway Primary School, Banbury and Our Lady's Convent Senior School, Abingdon, all received one prize.

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Infants from Bladon Primary School created collages based on a visit to the palace's secret garden and Year 6 pupils made a display about Winston Churchill and the Second World War.

Pre-school children from Brookside Primary School made a life-size model of a member of palace staff who took them on the tour.

Years 4, 5 and 6 pupils from Combe created a presentation based on the idea of an estate agent selling the palace.

Meanwhile, Rudi Hopkin, eight, from Queensway Primary School, painted a portrait of the 10th Duchess of Marlborough and year 9 pupils from Abingdon made a set of maths problems based on the palace maze.