A MOTHERING Sunday drawing competition for youngsters attracted hundreds of entries.

Durham City mayor Mary Hawgood judged the pictures submitted to the city's Prince Bishops Shopping Centre.

She said: "The choice was very hard, with so many entries, and the standard of pictures from the nine and ten-year-olds was very high.

"But eventually, we found three that stood out from the rest. I congratulate the winners and commend the Prince Bishops on their excellent initiative, which I am sure their shoppers have enjoyed immensely."

The competition was so popular - the entries were displayed in the windows of Bhs and Adams - that some had to be displayed inside Bhs because all the window space was filled.

First place went to Melody Miller, who goes to Tow Law's Blessed John Duckett Primary School.

She won a digital camera for her school and a pamper day for her mother, by Toni and Guy and No7 at Boots, and a bouquet from Flowers International. She also got an art pack and Adams clothing vouchers.

Second place went to Sophie Rae, from St Margaret's Primary School, in Durham, and third place to Megan Graham, from Finchale Primary School in the city.

Shopping centre administrator Jill Dodds said: "The schools really excelled themselves and we have been very busy with families coming to see the work that the children produced."