With the biggest turnout ever, children gathered in Stevenage’s High Street Methodist Church for an annual Christmas poster competition, with the winner and runner-up set to switch on the Old Town’s Christmas lights this year.

The overall winner was Orla Philpotts, who will receive a £15 gift voucher donated by Monkey's Emporium, and the runner-up was Shye Donovan.

A spokesman for The Stevenage Old Town Business and Community Partnership, which organised the event, said: "Well done to all the children who entered our Christmas poster competition. It was the biggest turnout we've had so far and the hardest to judge.

"Special thanks go to The Stevenage Arts Guild for judging the event, to Tesco and Waitrose for providing sweets, and to the church for being such wonderful hosts."

The official switch-on of the Christmas lights will be on November 23, following a lantern parade.