FRIENDS and family of Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins will this year receive a colourful Christmas card designed by the talented hand of a Natland primary school pupil.

Sophie Hunter, aged 9, of St Mark's School, was crowne d the winner of the annual competition and will see her design gracing the greetings cards of the area's MP.

Competition was especially tough this year, with Mr Collins facing a hard task to pick just one winner from the hundreds of entries.

Pupils from all over South Lakeland put their creative talents into action, producing an excellent array of festive designs.

Mr Collins was on hand to present Sophie with her prize a £25 book voucher last week.

The school also received a £25 voucher.

Sophie's winning design features a festive Christmas tree and smiling snowman.

Mr Collins said: All this year's entries were excellent and my wife and I had a tough job choosing between them. But in the end Sophie's picture of a snowman shone out."