A DARLINGTON schoolgirl reached the final of the Royal Mail’s Christmas stamp design competition.

Faye Hughes won £500 worth of vouchers for herself and her school, West Park Academy after her design was one of 22 area winners out of almost 240,000 entries.  

The youngster was congratulated on her achievement by Darlington MP Jenny Chapman who presented the six-year-old with a certificate and set of stamps featuring her own design.

Ms Chapman said: “Faye’s creativity has really put Darlington on the map and I am thrilled that her work has been recognised.

“It was a pleasure to go into school and meet Faye and her family, and I am very proud of the fact she is from Darlington.”

The competition was open to children aged from four to eleven years old who were asked to design a stamp representing what the Christmas season meant to them.