CHILDREN in East Lancashire schools were invited to email their Christmas thoughts for an online competition.

Lancashire County Council ran the competition to find out what Christmas meant to children today.

The winning message by 10-year-old Alex McCann from Rosewood Primary in Burnley was then used in Christmas messages from the executive director for Children and Young People for Lancashire County Council.

Alex's poem says, So now you see that Christmas, Is one of the best happenings, I hope you liked this poem, Merry Christmas to all living things!' Pat Jeff, executive director for Children and Young People, launched the competition by sending out a message via the Schools Portal - a website that carries information to all schools.

Pupils were asked to make an image, compose a poem or write a few words on the subject, and to email their entries across.

Cloe Larkin of Thornton Primary School won second place for a Christmas picture, and third prize went to Adele Duffin at Barnoldswick CE Primary School for her poem.

Pat Jefferson said: "I am so pleased you took the time and made the effort to take part in this online competition, which is the first one we have held. We had a very difficult time deciding on the winners.

"We care that you get a good education but we want you to have some fun at the same time and this competition seemed like a good way of doing that."