WESTERN Spray, based on the Lords Meadow Industrial Estate in Crediton, will be sponsoring this year’s competition to design Central Devon MP Mel Stride’s Christmas card.

The annual competition, in its sixth year, is open to primary school pupils across Central Devon.

The winning design and two runners-up feature on the card, which will be sent electronically to more than 1,000 people, including friends, family, fellow MPs and local organisations Mel has visited in the past 12 months.

Western Spray owner Peter Heal, a former Chairman of Mid Devon District Council, will be judging the 2020 competition.

He said: “I’m delighted to be sponsoring Mel’s Christmas card competition for 2020. Having received Christmas cards from Mel for many years I know the standard of the winning entries is always very high and I’m looking forward to seeing what drawings local pupils come up with this year!”

Mel said: “Sending out my Christmas cards definitely got a lot more enjoyable when I started this competition and I got to see so many beautiful and interesting drawings each year by the next generation of artists and designers.

“I am very grateful to Peter for sponsoring and judging the competition for 2020.”

In recent years designs that have featured on Mel’s Christmas card have come from Cheriton Fitzpaine Primary School, Landscore Primary School in Crediton, Bickleigh-on-Exe Primary School, Tedburn St Mary Primary School and Stoke Canon Primary School.