AN artistic youngster has bagged £150 worth of toys for designing the winning entry in the Lancashire Telegraph Design a Christmas Card competition.

Iris Hall, six, spent hours working on the Advent-style card, coloured in with festive red and green.

She beat more than 600 entries from schools and individuals to win the top prize.

The St Peter’s Primary School pupil, from Holden Fold, Darwen, was delighted with the early Christmas presents she won, courtesy of Toymaster in Blackburn, for her design.

Her mum Heidi Brown said: “Iris loves making things. She is so pleased that she has won and she loves all the toys she has received, particularly the large pony “She said she would like to donate on of the toys to the collection at the mall for disadvantaged children because she has plenty.

“I think the rest of toys will be out of the boxes before we’re home!

“It was grandma that spotted the competition in the paper and, because Iris loves making things, she suggested she make one.

“It took her quite a while. She needed a little help off her sister Morgan to cut out the windows, but Iris did the rest.

“Iris loves the build up to Christmas, especially advent calendars, which gave her the idea for her card.

“She has already written a letter to her teacher to let her know that she has won first prize.”

Iris said: “I’m looking forward to seeing if Santa has been on Christmas day. I will be putting out a mince pie and magic reindeer food.”

Blackburn’s Toymaster store manager Neil Brown, who provided the prizes, congratulated Iris.

He said: “Well done to Iris on a great design for her Christmas card, and I hope she likes all the toys she has received.

“I would also like to say thanks to everyone else who entered. I wish each of them a merry Christmas.”