SCHOOLCHILDREN from Sunningdale School, in Sunderland, have designed this year's corporate Christmas card for excavator manufacturer Komatsu.

And so popular have the cards proved that workers at the plant, in Birtley, County Durham, have been asking to buy the cards to send to their family and friends.

The artists behind the card are Amy Jackson, eight, Tony Hawkes, 11, Kelly Marie Harvey, 11, and Andrew Robins, seven, who are pupils at the school which caters for children with learning difficulties.

Lisa Carson, human resources officer at Komatsu UK, said: "We initially placed an order for 1,000 cards, but the number has risen to 1,700 after staff placed their own orders."

All proceeds from the cards sale will go towards buying a hydrotherapy pool for the school.

Kevin Reilly, a teacher at the school, said: "Komatsu UK have been working with us since March as we were chosen to be the company's charity of the year by its employees.

"They approached us with the concept of a Christmas card and the children loved the idea."

Ms Carson said: "We have been involved in a lot of fundraising for Suningdale, but the Christmas card has been the most successful."

The cards are now being offered for sale to the public at £3 for ten.

For more details, contact the school on 0191-553 5880.