A COTTON-wool beard and twinkling stars won over Evening News editor Stewart Gilbert as he judged MP Mike Foster's Christmas card competition.

Seven-year-old Nicholas Buchan, from Cherry Orchard Primary School, was hailed overall winner with 13 other winning tots attending a thank you ceremony at the Guildhall on Friday.

His colourful card will now find its way to Prime Minister Tony Blair, Chancellor Gordon Brown and scores of other politicians and business leaders on Mr Foster's Christmas card list.

More than 1,200 budding artists in primary schools across Worcester took part in the annual competition.