EIGHT schoolchildren from East Cornwall have won a competition to design a charity Christmas card for Tesco.

The children, all pupils at Delaware Community Primary School or Gunnislake Primary School, were awarded prizes of art equipment.

Beth Alway, executive headteacher for the Federation of Delaware and Gunnislake Primary Schools, said: 'The competition winners were delighted to have their designs chosen, especially when they knew they would be taken to the printers and turned into actual Christmas cards. One child declared he was so excited he could faint! That probably sums up the pride they all felt and justifiably so — it was a truly memorable experience for all involved.'

The panel of judges included Ms Alway and Gary Wills and Alan Woollcombe from Tesco's Callington store.

Gary Wills, store manager, said: 'It was very difficult picking the winners as the standard of artwork was so high — it was a lot harder than my day job!'

The Christmas cards with the eight winning designs will shortly be on sale at the store and at both schools to raise funds for charity, and the artwork will be on display in Tesco's foyer.

Mr Woollcombe, community champion for the store, said: 'We are trying to raise £2,000 for the Alzheimer's Society and these lovely cards will go a long way to helping us achieve that.

'We would also like to thank local printers Ottery Press for kindly offering their services at cost at the last minute — without their support this could not have happened.'

Bridget Shillaber, assistant head for Gunnislake School, added: 'It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to show their creative talents. Many thanks to Tesco for organising the event.'