ARTISTIC schoolchildren from the North-East have been recognised for their paintings.

Emily Tuer, four, from Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, and Jordan Preston, nine, from Whickham, both won first prize in the Northumbria in Bloom painting competition.

Their winning entries were chosen from hundreds of others submitted by schoolchildren across the region and were among 14 to be featured in the official Northumbria in Bloom Calendar for next year.

Councillor Michael McNestry, cabinet member for the environment at Gateshead Council, said: "The paintings that were entered in the competition were fantastic and all the winners have done really well to have their entries reproduced in the official calendar, which will be available to buy at Gateshead's summer flower show in July.

"Gateshead is extremely proud of its horticulture, and local people get involved in everything from our spring and summer flower shows, Northumbria in Bloom and various other initiatives in parks, gardens and allotments."

Every year, hundreds of communities take part in Britain in Bloom, bringing together horticultural skills and participation from local people.

Organised by the Royal Horticultural Society, the competition aims to increase civic pride and regenerate local environments with imaginative landscaping and planting, while also dealing with local environmental issues, such as litter, graffiti and vandalism.

The in-bloom judging tour runs from July 19 to 26, with the results being announced in September.