YOUNGSTERS spread festive cheer and raised cash for charity by designing Christmas cards.

Pupils at St James CofE Primary in Westhoughton linked up with staff at Lamb and Swift Commercial, of Chorley New Road, Bolton, to raise more than £1,100.

The company took part in a competition between 150 businesses across Greater Manchester to see who could raise the greatest sum for charity in the three months before Christmas.

The competition was organised by Halliwell Solicitors, which challenged teams to turn £50 of start-up money into as much cash as possible for the Prince's Trust.

Companies could use any legal and ethical method to raise the cash and Sue Taylor, office manager at Lamb and Swift, suggested getting children from St James to design cards to sell.

Miss Taylor said: "It's the first time we've taken part in anything like this and we were really keen to work with a local school.

"We chose four great designs, two from the infants and two from the juniors."

The children created the cards as part of a special Design Week.

The company had 8,000 cards printed and sold them to parents, other local businesses and friends.