Darlington pupil creates award winning Christmas card.

A SCHOOLGIRL’S design skills captured the attention of judges in a national competition to create a Christmas card.

Katy Gartland, a pupil at West Park Academy, Darlington, took the regional prize in a nationwide contest to design a festive greetings card.

Organised by education recruitment company Hays, the competition attracted hundreds of entries from Teesside, Tyneside, County Durham and Yorkshire.

Katy’s entry was judged to have best encapsulated Christmas by featuring a tree, presents, Santa and a snowman. She received a framed copy of her winning artwork and a £50 voucher for art equipment for her school.

Middlesbrough-based Hays team manager Katie Kendall said: “We really loved her design which presented the perfect Christmas scene. She has done really well and is a worthy winner.”

Katy, ten, added: “The idea just popped into my head and I did the card in crayon and felt-tip one night after school. I have entered quite a few competitions but this is the first time I have won anything, which is really exciting.”