TWO Okehampton schoolchildren have reached the final of a nationwide colouring competition which could land them computer equipment to the value of £1,000 for their school.
Ben Bickle and Sophie Cooper won the first heat of the colouring competition organised by Cheltenham and Gloucester in Okehampton to show how fireworks night could be celebrated safely.
The Okehampton Cheltenham and Gloucester branch was overwhelmed with entries and six-year-old Ben Bickle and ten-year-old Sophie Cooper beat off stiff competition to win the first heat.
Their entries are now being judged for the regional and national competition from among more than 400 entries from around the country.
In the four-to-seven age category Ben won a deluxe colouring set and in the eight to eleven age range, Sophie won a giant art set.
The four runners-up were six-year-old Shannon Osman, eight-year-old Annabel Jeffery, seven-year-old James Clinch and eight-year-old Daniel Clinch, who each won a craft set.
Chris Hurley, Cheltenham and Gloucester branch manager said: 'The whole point of this competition was to raise safety awareness at this time of year, and we have had some great involvement from the mayor and local schools.
'We have seen some brilliant entries in this branch, and it was a pleasure to award the prizes to the children today.
'We have now got our fingers crossed for Ben and Sophie — I'd love to see one of them win the regional heat and to see the national prize come to Okehampton.'