A schoolboy and his father who stayed up to watch the general election said they were "gobsmacked" when newly elected Tania Mathias dedicated her win to the 10-year-old on live television.

Daniel Edge, 10, bumped into Dr Mathias when he went to the polling station with his father on the morning of the election and told her he would be rooting for her from home and would stay up to see the result come in.

When it was announced Dr Mathias had won the Twickenham seat in the early hours of Friday morning last week she dedicated her victory to Daniel, to his complete surprise.

Daniel Edge said: "My father and I were watching and we thought wow, Tania has won and when she spoke about me I just couldn’t believe it.

"I was jumping up and down the room with my dad.

"I went to school the next day and stood up in front of the class. They were so jealous."

Daniel, who attends Denmead School in Hampton, said he was very interested in politics and would perhaps like to be a Conservative MP himself one day.

He said: "I am very good at speaking to people and making them listen."

Dr Mathias said: "I will keep the seat warm for him."

The young cricketer and keen footballer said he was delighted Dr Mathias won the election and hoped she would do well.

He said: "I think she will do a very good job and listen to everybody who asks her for help."

Daniel’s father, Andrew, said he woke Daniel up just after 3am so they could see the results, and the pair were "gobsmacked" when they heard Daniel mentioned on the television.

He said: "Daniel is very aware of current events and was poring over the map of the constituencies in the paper.

"He is a very confident young boy and will talk to anyone. He saw Jessica Ennis once and bounded over to her to tell her he had seen her on television."