A DAUGHTER has followed in her mum's footsteps by winning an Easter bonnet competition -- 21 years after her mum took first prize.

Nicole Gordon, aged nine, of Coleridge Street, Blackburn, scooped the top prize of a cuddly chicken and chocolates after entering the competition at Griffin Park Primary School, Cavendish Place.

In 1982 her mum, Donna Jamieson, 30, was a pupil at St Anne's Primary School in Feilden Street. She entered the equivalent contest and won some Easter eggs.

However the winnings are not down to a creative flair running in the family but an inventive grandmother with a penchant for all things fluffy.

Donna's mum Evelyn Marsden, 47, also of Coleridge Street, is the creative brain behind both winning designs.

She said: "I don't know where the ideas came from but I did need a lot of patience. In both cases I bought all the chicks, bunnies, chocolate eggs and feathers beforehand then spent a whole night putting them together.

"I didn't let anyone see the bonnets until the day of the competition. And I didn't get any of the chocolate prizes either but it's better that the children enjoy them."

Nicole's winning design this year had a yellow fur trim with the main part of the hat made to look like a nest containing chickens sitting on chocolate eggs.

Donna's bonnet had featured chickens, rabbits, feathers and mini eggs.

Donna said: "Nicole's bonnet is better than mine was -- mum seems to have improved her skills over the last 21 years although I don't know how."

Donna's younger daughter, Katie Cowell, five, now hopes to take the top spot next year after being runner-up to Nicole this year.