A SCHOOLGIRL'S depiction of her home town has won her a top prize after catching the eye of judge and world-renowned Teesside artist Mackenzie Thorpe.

Ebony Watts was one of hundreds of children to enter the My Town drawing competition organised by the Tees Transporter Bridge Visitor Experience and Middlesbrough Sports Village.

The picture by the Year Four pupil at St Pius X RC Primary School in Park End featured the Transporter Bridge, Dock clock, Bottle of Notes and the urban park.

Mr Thorpe said: “There were lots of terrific pictures to choose from, but I felt Ebony’s best captured the spirit of Middlesbrough and her love of her home town.”

Middlesbrough Mayor David Budd said: “There’s a huge amount of investment under way in Middlesbrough at the moment, creating a whole new environment alongside the landmarks which recall our history.

Ebony’s painting will be displayed as a huge poster in an upcoming display in Middlesbrough’s town centre along with other competition entries.

The initiative was launched by the Tees Transporter Bridge Visitor Experience Project and Middlesbrough Sports Village following the recent runaway success of Mackenzie’s Station Posters exhibition at Middlesbrough Railway Station.

Later this year Ebony and Mr Thorpe will meet and ride in the glass lift at the official launch of the Tees Transporter Visitor Experience.

The competition was launched following the recent success of his Station Posters exhibition at Middlesbrough Railway Station, which can be viewed at www.mackenziethorpe.net/-station-posters.html