A cheery snow scene drawn by a nine-year-old pupil at Finchale Primary School, in Durham, will appear on hundreds of Christmas cards this year.

The design, by Caitlin Neasham, was yesterday chosen to feature on the cards to be sent out by City of Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods.

In second place was a fancy Christmas tree, drawn by nine-year-old Jennifer Cuthill, from Neville's Cross, while in third place was Abi Heather, ten, of Bowburn Junior School, who had a couple of snowmen asking: "Can you smell carrot?"

All primary schools in the constituency were invited to take part in the competition, and more than 300 entries were judged at the Gala Theatre by Mrs Blackman-Woods, Julie Elliott of GMB Northern, Simon Stallworthy of the Gala, and Chris Lloyd, deputy editor of The Northern Echo.

The girls win £100, £50 and £25 respectively, plus a family ticket each to see the theatre's Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime, which stars Geoffrey from Rainbow.