The chance phone chat came when Anthony Day, 20, tried to get in touch with the Prime Minister as part of his campaign to highlight the promotion of Fairtrade products.

Anthony will get another chance for a chat with Mr Brown – this time in the flesh at Number 10 – after being recognised for his work with the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Inspirational Young People.

Anthony, who is studying accounting at Hartlepool College of Further Education in Stockton Street, received the award himself in December 2007 for inspiring others through promotion of Fairtrade products, both on a local and national level, while studying at English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College.

Since winning the award, Anthony has helped set up the Diana Award Channel, a website launched last July to allow all award holders to upload their views in text, audio or video.

Anthony, who lives in Alfred Street, in Hartlepool, has been invited to Downing Street to discuss his ideas with Gordon Brown and is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with the PM after their phone call.

He said: "I will spend around two hours with the Prime Minister where I will discuss with him how I got the award and how and why I have kept so involved and active with the Diana Award after receiving it. I've actually spoken to him before. I wrote a letter about Fairtrade and I rang up Whitehall to ask if I'd be getting a response.

"I ended up being put straight through to him. It was quite surreal but he was dead nice."

Anthony, who lives with his parents Sharon, 43, and Tommy, 60, will travel to London on Thursday along with five other members of the Diana Award team.

While in the capital Anthony will attend BETT, the world's largest educational technology event that showcases top products, resources and best practice and is due to interview MP Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.