YOUNGSTERS in Bromsgrove are being urged to put their thinking caps on and get painting this week as the town's firefighters launch their annual painting competition.

This is the third year running that the competition has been staged and children up to 12-years-old can enter to try and bag one of the prizes which have been donated by businesses in the town.

Any medium can be used on any size of paper to create the masterpieces, but the final piece must not be larger than 62cm by 48cm.

The age categories and subjects are: five or under pictures based on fire engines, six to eight years on the work of the fire service and nine to 12s must incorporate a fire safety message.

There will be a first, second and third prize and each one will be judged on artistic merit, originality and relevance.

All entries must be handed into the Windsor Street fire station by November 18 and the winners will be announced in December.