ENTRIES have been flooding in from young artists who have designed their own Christmas cards in the hope of winning top prizes.

The Daily Echo has teamed up with Marks & Spencer and Cyclexperience to offer budding youngsters the chance to put their talents to the test in this year's competition.

All you have to do is design a card that reflects Christmas, which can include designs of anything from Christmas puddings to festive crackers.

Anyone aged 12 and under can enter and winners will be selected from three age categories: under-fives, five to eight and nine to 12.

Some of the colourful entries sent in so far include a Christmas tree design by Robert Blackburn, 9, of Moody Road, Fareham, and an an angel picture by five-year-old Bradley Coster of Coxford Road in Maybush.

Lucky winners will be presented with a brand new off-road bike, a Marks & Spencer £15 hamper and £35 worth of in-store goods.

Runners up will receive Toy Store vouchers and Marks & Spencer goodies.

Entries must be in by Friday and the winning design will be published in the Daily Echo on Saturday, December 18.

All designs must be in colour and presented on A4 portrait paper.

Remember to include your name, age, address and telephone number on a separate piece of paper.

Send your entries to Christmas Card Competition, Promotions Depart-ment, Southern Daily Echo, PO Box 543, Southampton, SO16 9ZO, or e-mail them to christmas-cards@soton-echo.co.uk