MORE than 800 schoolchildren have worked their creative socks off to design Wrexham Council’s official Christmas card for 2010.


The winners have now been chosen and will see their designs being posted out across the UK and beyond.


Each year Assembly Member Lesley Griffiths and MP Ian Lucas invite the county’s primary school pupils to take part in the competition and the winning design is sent to constituents, local businesses and organisations as well as to colleagues at Westminster and the Welsh Assembly Government.


Niamh Collins, of St Mary’s Catholic Primary, was chosen as winner by Mayor Jim Kelly and his wife, beating nearly 800 other contestants with her design which featured the message “Joy and peace to the world” around a Christmas wreath.
Second was Abbie Cummins, of Victoria CP School and third Sophie Parr, from Rofft School, Marford.


The winners were honoured at a special ceremony at the grand Guildhall Council Chamber on Friday where Mrs Griffiths, Mr Lucas and the Mayor and his wife were on hand to award certificates to the winners and packs of the finished cards sporting their winning designs to send to family and friends.


Children from 15 Wrexham primary schools and parents, guardians and staff were also in attendance.


All three designs are featured on the cards, Niamh’s on the front and the runners up on the back and Mrs Griffiths was delighted to have the cards to brighten up her office over the last few weeks.


She said: “It appears we have a lot of budding young artists in our midst.
“I enjoy the Christmas card competition every year, especially the presentation ceremony, and this year was no exception.”


Mr Lucas said: “The annual Christmas card prize-giving always marks the start of Christmas to me and I look forward to it each year.


“The standard of entries was once again excellent and I would like to congratulate all those who took part.”