A CHRISTMAS card designed by a North-East youngster will be used by Health Secretary Alan Milburn to send his greetings.

The train design, by ten-year-old Mike Lakey, of Darlington, was picked from more than 100 entries in a competition run by Mr Milburn, the town's MP.

He said: "I got a bit fed up with the House of Commons cards, so I thought it would be nice to get a card designed by kids in Darlington."

Mr Milburn said he picked Mike's design because it represented Darlington and was also very festive. Mike won an art set donated by The Art Shop, Darlington.

His design has been displayed, along with others, in the foyer at the Safeway supermarket, Victoria Road.

The two other leading entries were by Martin Bean, for a design featuring Santa giving Rudolph a flu jab, and a picture of St Cuthbert's Church, by Emma Metcalfe.

They also received an art set from The Art Shop, and the other runners-up were presented with prizes by Mr Milburn and the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Isobel Hartley.