TODAY we launch our fantastic competition for children to design their own Christmas cards.

Last year, thousands of youngsters sent in their excellent designs of everything from snowmen to Christmas trees, and presents.

As well as fabulous prizes, the winners will have their cards professionally printed, and they will be able to send them to family and friends, making them an extra special gift for Christmas.

Whether it is a festive winter scene, with robins and snowmen, or brightly-coloured Santas with reindeer, we want to see your wonderful designs.

The competition is open to children aged four to 11.

To enter, all you need to do is draw a design for the front of your card in the template, which you can download and print off here: DesignACardTemplate.pdf

Alternatively, you can download the template from our website, burytimes.co.uk/card, or ask for one from your school. Your card can be made using paints, coloured pencils, or felt-tip pens.

Once you have finished your card, fill in the details on the form and send it to Design a Christmas Card Competition, Editorial Department, Bury and Radcliffe Times, The Wellsprings, Civic Centre, Bolton, BL1 1AR, by October 24.

A selection of the best cards will be printed in a special supplement on November 14 when readers will be able to vote for their favourite designs by text, or by phone.

Usual Newsquest rules apply, which can be viewed online at burytimes.co.uk/ terms The votes will then be counted, and the winner and runners-up will be announced at the end of November, with the cards printed at the start of December. The winners in each category — aged four to seven, and eight to 11 — will be the designs which receive the most votes.

The winning cards will be printed by Impression (Bolton) Limited, in Manchester Road, Bolton.

You can download the template here: DesignACardTemplate.pdf