AN 11-year-old has come up with the winning name for the new Blackburn Market food court.

A series of competitions saw schoolchildren from across the borough put on their thinking caps to not only rename the eating area, but also to design a new market mascot and a welcome banner.

‘Foodilicious’, the winning entry for the food area, was suggested by Reece Robson from Redeemer CEP. He won £50 in market vouchers. A sign reading ‘Foodilicious’ will be going up in the area soon. The new mascot, ‘Shopping Shaun’, a shopping bag character designed by Weronika Karwat, 11, from St Mary St Joseph’s School, will be unveiled at the official opening of the market tomorrow. Weronika won a Nintendo 3DS.

The decision on the name and the mascot were made by a panel of council officials.

A welcome banner was designed by Aatikah Awan and Nabeela Mulla who won £50 each. The second prize winner was Marianne Wilson, 11, from Redeemer CEP, who won four tickets for the Vue Cinema.