VALE schoolchildren are invited to help spread joy and festive cheer by designing the Vale mayor’s Christmas card for this year.

Entries can be submitted in six categories – nursery, reception, Years 1 to 3, Years 4 to 6, Years 7 to 9, and Years 10 to 12.

The winners of each category will be used to create a Christmas card collection and the money raised from sales will go to the mayor’s charities.

Vale council mayor, cllr Stuart Egan is supporting The Penarth and District Lesotho Trust and the Llandough Hospital Orchard Project

A spokeswoman said: “Your entry can be a photograph, a drawing, a cartoon, a picture – we are open to all ideas. It would be great to have a link to the mayor’s charities, the Penarth and District Lesotho Trust and the Llandough Hospital Orchard Project - and of course Christmas.”

Entries can be submitted to: themayor@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk or by post to: Christmas Card Competition, The Mayor’s Office, the Town Hall, King Square, Barry, CF63 4RW.

A winner will be chosen from each category.

Entries must be received by Sunday, October 9.