Does your child love colouring? Is he or she an expert with crayons or felt-tips?

The Northern Echo is encouraging talented colourers from the region to enter our Christmas colouring competition.

We've put three seasonal pictures on our Christmas website, and we are inviting children to take a look, pick one, and colour it in brightly just in time for Christmas.

"This is a fun way of helping children to get ready for Christmas," said Sheelagh Caygill, digital media editor, who set up the competition online.

"Children or their parents simply need to download a picture from the site and print it off, have fun colouring, and then send it to us."

Lamb's Toys, of West Auckland Road, Darlington, has joined in the fun and will be providing prizes for the best entries.

The top entry from a boy will get a Super Truck City Playset, and the best girl's entry will receive a Dance Maker Dance Mat. Winners will also be featured in The Northern Echo.

The competition is open to children aged 11 and younger, and entrants must be from the North-East or North Yorkshire.

So get colouring.

Simply visit www.thisischristmas.com and click on the left-hand link to choose your picture. Your completed work must arrive at The Northern Echo's offices by Friday, December 13, 2002.

Send them to Colour Santa Competition, The Northern Echo, New Media, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF.