Every year, I ask local schools if they’d like to participate in my Christmas card competition.

As well as some lovely prizes, the winner gets featured as the official design for my Christmas card. The 2nd and 3rd place winners’ designs feature inside the card, too. As ever, my office in Pencoed was inundated with entries from many schools across the Ogmore Constituency. It certainly proved to be a tough job to whittle it down to just three designs. The cards themselves are then sent to businesses, community groups and organisations right across the constituency.

Oliver Issac, aged 10, from Croesty Primary School, designed this year’s winning picture. I surprised Oliver at a school assembly recently when it was announced that he’d won the competition. Oliver was delighted and was joined by his family to celebrate. The winning design was a drawing of a very colourful and abstract Christmas tree.

The runners-up were Rosa, aged 8, from Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Calon Y Cymoedd in Bettws, who drew a very Christmassy-looking Owl and Oliver, aged 11, from Ysgol Bryn Castell, Brynmenyn, who drew Father Christmas along with some presents and a snowman.

The designs I received this year were incredibly artistic, and it was lovely to see so many entries from many schools. I look forward to seeing all the entries yearly, but choosing the winner seems to be getting tougher year on year. Congratulations to Oliver Issac and the runners up.

Thank you to all the children and schools for participating and I wish you all a Merry Christmas!