THE children of the pre-prep department at one North Yorkshire independent school have designed their own Christmas cards this year.

Each child in the department at St Martin's School at Nawton, near Helmsley, has contributed a drawing for the colourful cards.

Every one sold will be raising cash for a charity very close to the school's heart.

Several times each year the chairman of the governors travels to India to give dental treatment at the Bilafalpur Hospital in Rajastan.

On those trips he attends the hospital camps in the desert where surgeons treat people who have no other medical facilities.

All the money raised from the sale of the Christmas cards will be sent to the hospital, which is funded entirely by voluntary contributions.

The cards are being sold in packs of ten at £3 a pack and details of how to order them can be obtained by telephoning the school on Helmsley (01439) 771215