Christmas came early for one Bradford youngster when her design was chosen as the winner in the Telegraph & Argus Christmas card competition.

Nine-year-old Sophie Murch spent two days working on the card and has scooped the top prize - winning a £150 ASDA gift voucher for her efforts.

Sophie, who lives in Frizinghall, used a sponge to create the textured finish on the snowman scene.

She said she learnt the technique from her child-minder.

"The hardest bit was trying to get the colour right," she said. "It took two attempts until I was happy with it."

Mum Miriam said Sophie was always painting and drawing.

"She practised the sponge effect on a fish she was drawing first of all, and then thought she could use it on the Christmas card design," she said.

"The impressive thing is the design fills the whole card, children usually draw something in the middle, but this covers the whole space."

The design will become the focal point of the Telegraph & Argus's Christmas card and will be sent out to civic and community leaders and T&A clients, and important business contacts throughout the district.

It will also go on sale at Asda stores in Shipley and Rooley Lane, Bradford, and the Asda Wal-Mart Supercentre in Pudsey.

All proceeds from sales will go to the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Can... Cancer Research Appeal.

Sophie's card impressed the judges with it's distinctive use of colouring. She said she was amazed when she was told that her design had won.

T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke praised the high standards of entry in this year's competition.

"It's a shame that we have to pick a winner because there were so many good entries and all the children have clearly worked very hard on their designs," he said.

"I'd like to thank them all for entering and to congratulate them on their imagination and skill.

"Sophie's card really stood out, however, and she should be extremely proud that so many important people around the district will be receiving a card based on her design this Christmas."

As well as painting and drawing, Sophie loves music and plans to buy an electric keyboard with her prize.

Debbie Crossley, events co-ordinator at ASDA's Rooley Lane Store, presented Sophie with her prize.

"The card is very impressive. I don't think I would have been able to do it," she said. "This was a great way to encourage young talent and I'm sure the prize money acted as a good incentive."

Designs by Sally Millet, 10, of Bingley and Abbie Craven, 9, from Bolton Woods were chosen as runners-up in the competition. The two girls will each receive a £25 ASDA gift voucher.