This week we are shouting about the winner of Haydon Wick Parish Council’s first Christmas card design competition.

Katie Evans, who will be seven years old later this month, produced the winning design Rainbow Candy Cane which will be used for cards in the parish council’s Christmas parcels.

“It feels amazing to win,” said Katie. “I never normally win stuff!”

For more than 30 years the council has been giving out yearly Christmas parcels to residents who live alone and are over the age of 70.

This year saw the first competition run across schools in the parish to select a design for the Christmas cards which go in with the parcels.

Each package will contain a selection of store cupboard staples including tea, coffee and sugar.

There will also be a few seasonal treats such as an individual Christmas pudding and mince pies.

The Haydon Wick Primary School pupil beat 36 other entries to claim the top spot, including from Red Oaks Primary School and St Francis Primary.

Katie added: “I entered because I like colouring.

“My mum printed all the templates and I chose the candy cane because I like them.”

Talking of the design she came up with, Katie said: “I wanted to do a repeating pattern with 3 colours that were bright.”

The competition was open to all pupils in the parish in reception class through to year 11.

The students were simply asked to come up with a square design which could be used as a Christmas card.

Children could draw their own design or colour in one of the templates provided by the council, featuring a Christmas bauble, a snowman or a candy cane.

The competition was held in early October, with the winner announced at the end of November.

Councillors Sarah McDermott and Ellen Baker Lee visited Haydon Wick Primary School at the end of November to announce to pupils that Katie had won.

“I feel happy to see my design on the cards,” said Katie.

Speaking of why it is important for children to get involved in the competition, she added: “ It’s nice to make people happy.”

The parcels will be delivered to over 140 residents in the Parish this weekend.