WARGRAVE House School in Newton is £500 better off -- thanks to the caring actions of a youngster whose cousin is a pupil there.

Seven-year-old Dan Ashcroft, from Formby, won a Christmas card competition, which was open to children of employers of the Manchester branch of Royal & Sun Alliance.

In addition to his card being chosen as the company's official corporate Christmas card, Dan was also presented with £500 to donate to a charity of his choosing.

And the youngster wasted no time in nominating the Newton school, which looks after children with autism, where his eight-year-old cousin Andrew Jackson, also from Formby, is a pupil.

Pam Maddock, principal at Wargrave House, said: "It was marvellous to receive such a large donation from Royal & Sun Alliance and we were very grateful that Dan nominated Wargrave House, his cousin Andrew's school, to receive the winning cheque. It is a wonderful idea to run a competition which involves children giving to charities."