Special birthday surprise for harvest competition winner

They were Lucy Cooper (5), Oliver Sprange (6), Alexia Strickson (7), Aine Gransden (80, and Kimberley Hitchens, and Amelia Gooch, both 10 year olds.

Pupils throughout the school worked on pictures based on harvest festival and autumn themes, such as corn dollies, fruit and baskets of food.

The pictures were judged by Alan Malpass, a local artist as well as president of Highwoods.

He said: "We were looking for harvest colours and shapes but I thought the best thing about it was that all the children paid 50 pence to enter and all the money went to Lepra, which is a leprosy charity."

"There were 122 entries and the standard was extremely high. It was very difficult to judge."

One of the winners was Amelia, who celebrates her birthday today.

She said: "It's good, I had a big party and all my class came, and it is good to get a prize on my birthday - it is quite a surprise, and I didn't think I would get it."

Also pleased to learn about her success was Alexia, who said: "I am very arty, and I like doing harvest stuff because I like food."