IT’S that time of year again for youngsters to dig out the crayons and felt-tips and really get festive.

Today we launch our design a Christmas card competition for youngsters to come up with their festive creations.

Readers of The Bolton News will vote for their favourite designs and the winners will have their cards professionally printed, as well as scooping some fantastic prizes including mountain bikes from Decathlon, 10-pin bowling at Hollywood Bowl, Middlebrook, a VIP night at the Albert Halls pantomime, as well as chocolate Santas from Slattery in Whitefield.

And now it could be your chance to win — and have your special designs turned into Christmas cards you can send to your friends and family.

Today, our hugely popular competition is back.

Whether it’s a festive winter scene, with robins and snowmen, or brightly coloured Santas with reindeer, we want to see your wonderful designs.

The competition is open to children aged four to 11.

To enter, all you need to do is draw a design for the front of your card in the template, which you can download and print off, or ask for one from your school.

Your card can be made using paints, coloured pencils, or felt-tip pens.

Once you have finished your card, fill in the details on the form and send it to Design a Christmas Card Competition, Editorial Department, The Bolton News, The Wellsprings, Civic Centre, Bolton, BL1 1AR, by October 31.

A selection of the best cards will be printed in a special supplement on November 13 when readers will be able to vote for their favourite designs by text, or by phone.

Usual Newsquest rules apply, which can be viewed online at burytimes.co.uk/terms The votes will then be counted, and the winner and runners-up will be announced at the end of November, with the cards printed at the start of December.

The winners in each category — aged four to seven, and eight to 11 — will be the designs which receive the most votes from readers.

The winning cards will be printed by Impression (Bolton) Limited, in Manchester Road, Bolton.

Download the entry forms here. You can use either size template to draw your design: