Inverasdale pupil off to Brussels for Christmas Card win

Alyn will also visit Inverasdale Primary school to deliver Euro goodie bags and speak to the pupils about life in the European Parliament.

The competition, run alongside Highland Council's annual Christmas card competition received hundreds of top quality entries from across the Highlands and Gemma's card faced some stiff competition.

The card - three robins on a branch with one dressed in a tartan kilt - will be produced and used as Mr Smith's official Christmas card.

Speaking after he chose the winner Mr Smith said

"Choosing a card was one of the hardest things I've had to do as an MEP. There were so many fantastic entries. I really liked the Scottish and highland themes people had put into them. It was so difficult to pick just one winner.

"Gemma's card really stood out. The little robins look really good and the tartan kilts and scarfs made it feel very Scottish. This card will be going all around Europe so it was important to me that it represented a Scottish Christmas."

"I'm really looking forward to Gemma coming out to Brussels and showing her around. I hope she'll enjoy it and maybe pick up a few bits of information on the Parliament too.

" Highlands and Islands MSP Jim Mather, who covers the Wester Ross area helped judge the cards.

"The quality of the entries was heart-warming. Clearly there are plenty of young talented and hard-working people in the next generation in the Highlands and Islands. My congratulations to Gemma on her winning design."