An "outstanding" design depicting Santa visiting Epping Forest has been chosen as the winner of Epping Forest MP Dame Eleanor Laing's Christmas card competition.
Hundreds of entries were received from schools across the Epping Forest constituency with the design by Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School Year 6 pupil Holly chosen as the winner.
Dame Eleanor, who visited the Lower Queens Road school on Friday to present Holly with her prize, said: "I have held this competition for many years. This year's entries were really, really good."
Before presenting Holly with her prize and copies of her printed design - along with a photograph of Dame Eleanor and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Holly's card - Dame Eleanor said her entry was "outstanding - an absolutely great design".
Another Buckhurst Hill Community Primary School pupil, Poppy, was one of the runners-up along with Khalid (Year 5, Loyola Preparatory School), Sophia (Year 1, Whitebridge Primary School), Helen (Year 4, Epping Primary School), Farrah (Year 5, The Daiglen School) and Lola (Year 3, High Beech Primary School).
Also attending the presentation were Jon O'Shea, chairman of Loughton-based accountants Haslers, and Ian Wright, head of marketing at Haslers which once again sponsored the competition.
The guests were entertained by children from Years 5 and 6 who sang a selection of Christmas music.
Dame Eleanor said: "The performances by the children were brilliant, and their festive hats and jumpers certainly added to the occasion."
A donation from the Christmas card competition has been made to the Chigwell Riding Trust.
