Earlier this year the mayor, Hilary Harrington asked schoolchildren in the borough to come up with their best designs for a festive-themed card.

More than 800 talented youngsters from primary schools entered the competition with a variety of designs submitted by the pupils.

The designs were then judged by the mayor and her deputy Malcolm Grainger at Allerdale Borough Council’s headquarters in Workington.

They picked out the best entries from each school which took part and then decided on the overall winner, whose design now features on the Christmas card.

The overall winner was 10-year-old Demi Clark, from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Salterbeck, who impressed the judges with her excellent drawing of Mr and Mrs Claus.

Hilary Harrington said:

“It was extremely difficult to pick a winner from the 812 entries we had this year as the standard was so high. I’m always very impressed by the talent of our young people across the borough and this competition was yet another showcase of what they can achieve.

“The Christmas card this year looks fantastic and I am delighted to be sending them out.”

Demi said:

“I decided to draw Mr and Mrs Claus and they are ready to go out and deliver all the presents to the children and they have all their sacks with them. I enjoyed drawing them because it’s different to drawing Rudolph or a Christmas tree and I enjoyed drawing Mrs Claus the most.”

Copies of the card will now be distributed to other civic dignitaries across Cumbria and the organisations which the mayor has visited during her time in office.

The winner received a £20 gift voucher for Argos and a selection box along with some Christmas cards with her design on to give to family and friends and the 49 runners up were given selection boxes as a prize.