SANTA'S got himself a new form of transport this year - a recycling wheelie bin pulled along by two reindeer.

Now, thanks to the artistic efforts of a ten-year-old Hedge End school pupil, people throughout the UK, Europe and the USA are set to see what may be landing on their roofs on Christmas Eve.

For Freegrounds Junior School pupil Ashleigh Bridgeman's design has been chosen as Eastleigh Council's official civic Christmas card, which will wing seasonal greetings from Eastleigh to recipients at home and abroad.

The borough's twin towns of Kornwestheim in Germany, Villeneuve-St-Georges in France and its sister city of Temple Terrace in USA will be just three of the destinations for cards set to wish people a "wheelie" merry Christmas.

Ashleigh's design was chosen ahead of 700 other entries in the council's annual competition for local schools.

Council leader Keith House, who presented the winner with her prize, said: "Ashleigh's card was an excellent design depicting the borough's successful recycling service and the festive spirit of Christmas within the borough. Over the years we have been delighted to involve our school and local children at this festive time of year."

Meanwhile, another Hedge End youngster's artistic prowess is set to bring folk festive greetings from Eastleigh mayor Councillor June Hughes this year.

She asked pupils of Hedge End's Kings Copse Primary School, where she once worked, to design her a Christmas card and 11-year-old Niall Buckley's traditional scene of a robin on a twig of holly triumphed in the competition.