How do you think you would score in a test of world flags...against a two-year-old?

Taylan Phillips, who is three months short of his third birthday, can recite nearly 40 flags after becoming fascinated by them at the start of the summer holidays.

He also knows letters, numbers and shapes and remembers everything after being told just once.

His mum Michelle Peacock, of Colchester Road, Halstead, said: “He will look at his flags every day for about 20 minutes but he’s only done the test I put together once.

“Last time we counted, he knew 37 flags but he learns two or three more a day.

“It fascinates me the way he thinks - when he says the flags, he’ll add a description.

“Sweden is “Sweden with a yellow cross in it” - he links it in with the shapes by himself. I’ve not told him any of it."

* Full feature in this week's Gazette - including how our reporter got on when pitted against Taylan in a flag naming contest.