DOUBLE gold Olympic medallist Max Whitlock delighted pupils and their families by opening their school’s Winter Wonderland Fair.

The gymnast joined Basildon’s mayor David Harrison to cut the red ribbon and declare the fair at St Margarets School in London Road, Bowers Gifford.

Charlotte Little, chairman of the school’s parent and teacher association, said: “It was really amazing he was able to come; we wanted to do something a bit different this year as Christmas fairs can be very similar so it was brilliant he could make it.

“All the pupils - and teachers and parents! - loved meeting him, he was a real hit.

“We also had real reindeer and a Santa’s grotto, which was lovely and meant there were lots of happy faces, and there were lots of stalls too.”