THE artistic talent of five Sedgefield youngsters has won them a prize.

More than 100 children from Sedgefield Primary School were invited by local beat officer PC Keith Todd to design a Christmas card.

He asked the children to draw pictures showing him at the wheel of a mechanical digger distributing his Christmas cards.

The overall winner of the competition was Rachel Cannings, 11. Cards bearing her design will be sent to hundreds of Sedgefield companies and dignitaries, including Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The cards are being produced by Ceddes Print, of Sedgefield, with local companies TC Harrison and JC Bamford Excavators (JCB) meeting all the costs.

Runners-up in the competition were Mattias Reichel, eight, Harry Simon, seven, Sara Hird, six, and Megan Devine, five. They were presented with gift bags.

PC Todd said: "Once again the standard of entries was remarkably high. It was obvious that all the children had put a lot of thought and effort into the competition, but Rachel's design was especially eye-catching."