Garden House Hospice Care has launched its first ever mascot, based on a picture drawn by a Letchworth student.

Primary schools across Stevenage, North Herts and surrounding villages were asked to take part in the competition to design the ‘We Care Bear’, which will represent the hospice and appear at event throughout the year.

The winner was Beth Jenkins from Norton St Nicholas School.

The Letchworth-based hospice’s event manager Jessica Carter said: “Thank you to everyone who took part. We were delighted to see 62 colourful bear drawings delivered to us at the hospice and we thoroughly enjoyed looking through all of the entries.

“Congratulations to Beth Jenkins from Norton St Nicholas School who won the competition. Beth’s design was sent off to a designer and was made into our furry friend.”

The We Care Bear recently visited Norton St Nicholas School to meet Beth, her fellow students and their teachers.

Beth’s mum Ruth Jenkins said: “We are very proud of Beth. She is so pleased to have won the competition and it has given her such a confidence boost.

“It was great seeing all the St Nicholas children so excited to meet the Care Bear on your recent visit.”

The We Care Bear will be making his next outing in Stevenage on tomorrow to celebrate the second birthday of the Garden House Hospice Care store in The Oval.

The visit will be complete with appearances from Pikachu and a T-rex, as well as a tombola.