THE hands of friendship have extended to pat a talented Bury artist on the back.

For Joanna Brain (11) has become the 2001 winner of the Bury Lions Club Peace Poster competition.

A pupil of Bury C of E High School, Joanna's poster has been chosen from more than 60 entrants to represent the Lions Club in the movement's international competition.

Her imaginative artwork embraced a global picture of people holding hands in a symbolic plea for peace.

Bury Lions president Mr Mike Davis was extremely impressed by the quality of the entrants this year and the amount of effort put in by Bury C of E High's pupils and staff.

"It is obvious these young people have strong ideas of what peace means to them," he said.

"I am so pleased that with the continued co-operation of the school's art teacher, Robert Kneale, we are able to provide an opportunity for them to share their visions with all of us."

In its thirteenth year the 2001 competition, entitled "United in Peace," is expected to attract more than 350,000 entrants throughout the world.

Joanna's poster will now go forward for judging within the North West Lions District.

And Mr Davis is hoping Joanna will follow in the footsteps of a previous Bury C of E entrant, Sara Harris, whose entry in 1990 went on to become placed in the top three for the UK.