CHILDREN at a village school are providing the inspiration for the Mayor of Darlington's Christmas greetings this year.

Councillor Doris Jones has enlisted the help of pupils at Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, to design her official Christmas cards for this year.

"I had a look around and could only see ordinary, run-of-the-mill cards, and I felt the children could be a bit more creative," she said.

"We collected their drawings and handed them over to the graphics department at the town hall, who will put them together."

The civic leader traditionally sends out about 500 cards to other local authorities and businesses.