Emilia Sharratt from Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Cronton and Oliver Barry-Speakman from St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Wigan have been named as winners in the annual archdiocese Christmas card competition.

The students were crowned the winners out of hundreds of entries for their creative designs.

The winners were shortlisted by a panel, before being judged by the public on the archdiocese’s social media channels.

Emilia, who is in Year 6, designed a silhouette of the manger with Mary and Joseph kneeling over it. It’s background also had music sheets going through it.

Meanwhile, Oliver, who is in Year 9, went for a night scene showing the nativity scene –with the Three Wise Men travelling through desert, the star shining down on the crib, where the baby Jesus lay in the manger with Mary and Joseph either side of him.

Commenting on his achievement, the school said: “We are immensely proud of Oliver for his enthusiasm and hard work in creating his card.

“We asked Oliver what had been his inspiration. He said: "I spent quite a lot of time thinking about my design. I wanted to remind people of what Christmas is all about and that we wouldn't be celebrating Christmas without the birth of Christ".”

Joan McCarthy, director of education at the Archdiocese of Liverpool, said: “We were completely overwhelmed with both the quality and amount of entries we received from our schools for this year’s competition.

“Emilia and Oliver were selected as winners as they created a design which was incredibly creative whilst capturing the true meaning of Christmas. Congratulations to them and thank you to everyone who entered our competition.”

The winning designs will be shared across the archdiocese this Christmas.