STUDENTS at a secondary school in Bicester who sent their best wishes to France following the recent Paris attacks have received a letter from the country’s president.

Pupils from The Cooper School in Churchill Road reached out “to show sympathy and support” as the nation tried to return to normality following the terrorist attacks on Friday, November 13.

In a series of horrific incidents across the capital 130 people were killed and more than 350 people were wounded.

Student Hannah Henry, 11, said: “We were so shocked by the awful events in Paris on November 13 that we felt we had to do something to show our sympathy and support for the French people.

“We decided to write our own individual letters to President Hollande to express our feelings.

“We were delighted to receive this reply from the Élysée Palace.”

The students all wrote individual letters which expressed their sadness after they were shocked to hear of the attacks.

The children explained that following the attacks they wanted the French people to “know that we were thinking of them”.

Letters read: “We hoped that the French people know that people around the world care.”

A reply was sent back to the students at the Churchill Road school which said: “The President of the French Republic wishes to acknowledge receipt of the letters that you sent him.

“The events that affected our country on November 13, 2015 are still very painful.

“In the face of those tragic deeds we must always remain united about the values of freedom humanity diversity and tolerance: values which are the foundations of our republic and which enlighten the whole world.

“It is in this way that we will triumph over those who deny us peace and how we will preserve or lives together.

“Just like you, countless people, children and adults alike, in France and everywhere in the world have felt immense sadness and expressed their fears.

“Above all those people have shown their solidarity and brotherhood.

“Monsieur Le President Francois Hollande was appreciative of your messages and has entrusted me to thank you sincerely.”

The response has now been framed and hung up at the school.

The Cooper School head of modern foreign languages Pamela Hickman said: “We are proud that students at The Cooper School are sufficiently interested in other cultures and current events that they wish to show empathy in this way with our European partners.”