A child’s Christmas card will be sent to the King after the design wowed judges in a competition.

Oliver Chadwick, who attends St Oswald's School in Accrington, won the ‘Design a Christmas Card for the King' competition in Hyndburn.

MP for Hyndburn Sara Britcliffe, in conjunction with Accrington-based estate agents Property Shop, announced the winners at Accrington’s Christmas lights switch on, which took place on Thursday night (November 24). 

The competition, which saw entry forms handed out to children at more than 40 schools, received a fantastic number of entries, and Oliver’s winning design will now being sent to King Charles III on behalf of Accrington.

Oliver also received a sweet hamper, 25 printed cards of his design and a £50 Love2Shop voucher.

Sofia Nikandrou, from Baxenden St Johns, and Samuel Bell, from St Christopher's C.E. High School, came second and third for their designs, with Sofia winning 15 printed cards of her design and a £25 Love2Shop voucher, while Samuel took home 10 printed cards of his design and a £10 Love2Shop voucher

Ms Britcliffe, will be using all three designs for her official Christmas cards for 2022, which will also see one sent to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Ms Britcliffe said: "I am overwhelmed by the response to this competition and there have been so many fantastic entries, the effort has been unbelievable.

"It was also very appropriate and fitting to select the winners in Accrington Market, right in the heart of our community here in Hyndburn, and to announce them at the Amazing Accrington Christmas Light Switch On, another fantastic community event."

Steven Chippendale, managing director of Property Shop, added: "We have thoroughly enjoyed sponsoring the Design a Christmas Card for The King competition.

"It has been wonderful to see the young people of Hyndburn really getting stuck into it and producing some designs which they should be really proud of.

"The Light Switch On, as always, was a tremendous community event, and it was a real pleasure to present the competition winners with their prizes."