pupils from Hardwick Primary School, Sedgefield, did well in the Northumbria in Bloom schools' painting competition, which attracted well over 7000 entries.

After narrowing the entries down to 110 finalists , the judges awarded a winning prize in her age group to nine-year-old Stephanie Keld.

She won the Cowells Garden Centre Cup which is kept by the school for a year. Awards of merit also went to Laura Bolam, Robert McGuinness and Callum Hogg .

Stephanie's entry can be seen in a Northumbria in Bloom 2001 calendar. Copies, £3, are available from June Beveridge, of the Northumbria in Bloom Committee, on (01740) 620725.