SCHOOLBOY Andrew Hill smiles for the camera after having his wish granted by councillors.

In a special ceremony, the nine-year-old was allowed to cut the ribbon on a new wishing well, in Kirkgate, Tadcaster.

Andrew, of York Road, Tadcaster, badgered the town council for a wishing well, which he said could be used to raise money for charity.

He sent a letter addressed to the Mayor, asking for a well with a lock on, and even drew a picture of a wishing well to make his point.

The council wrote back, thanking him for his letter and asking him where he would like it located.

Andrew wrote back, saying he had thought "very carefully" about the wishing well and thought it should be located in Kirkgate, outside the council offices.

The wishing well, which is in the shape of a barrel in keeping with the town's brewery status, is decorated with flowers and has a grill over the water.

It was made by Eric Sweeting, uncle of Tadcaster town councillor Richard Sweeting.

Coun Sweeting said: "Some councillors were a bit concerned that the well would be vandalised, but when a little boy of that age takes the trouble to write to the council, it would be unfair to knock him back.

"Children should be taken seriously. They are our future councillors and we have to support them in any little way we can."

The well was decorated with flowers after the council decided to use it as part of its efforts to win this year's Britain-in-Bloom competition.

Anne Green, of Tadcaster-in-Bloom, said: "It's nice when someone as young as Andrew takes the trouble to write to the council and even nicer when we are able to make his wish come true."

The wishing well has been sponsored by the British Heart Foundation and all the money collected in the well will go to the charity.

Updated: 10:56 Wednesday, July 16, 2003