A PAINTING by nine-year-old Amy Balch of Halwill will soon be seen all over the world on the official Christmas card picked by Pete Goss's catamaran Team Philips.

Amy's design was chosen from hundreds of entries in a nationwide competition run by Goss Challenges at Totnes.

As well as having her artwork made famous, the youngster and her family have been invited to the relaunch of Team Phillips in Totnes this Saturday.

'She was so thrilled,' said her mother Rozi. 'She did not expect it to win and we are all excited about going to the launch — even Amy's grandma will be there.'

The nine-year-old's class at Halwill Primary School has formed strong connections with Goss Challenges and has been to visit the site where the boat is being constructed on several occasions.

Many different pieces of their project work relating to Team Philips are displayed on the walls.

All 30 children in the class entered the competition which was promoted on the Internet.

Class teacher Chris Laws said the pupils had really got into the project and the most memorable thing was when they wrote to Pete Goss to ask him questions. He replied to each pupil individually.

'Considering how busy he was we all thought that was brilliant,' she said.

Mrs Laws added Amy had to finish the painting at home because she was off sick just after the class started their paintings.

'Thank goodness she did because she won it,' said the teacher. 'It was a very pretty picture with the harbour and the Team Philips boat and lots of details like a Christmas stocking hanging from the mast.'