Ten-year-old Fiona Gomez's festive Christmas fairy design has been selected as the winner of the Croydon Guardian and Centrale Shopping Centre Christmas card competition.

The Kingsley Primary School pupil's design was chosen from more than 500 entries to be one of nine finalists that would go to the public vote.

The high standard of entries made whittling the final list down to nine was a very difficult task for Centrale staff and Croydon Guardian reporter Gemma Wheatley.

Readers voted for their favourite Christmas card design on our website.

Centrale manager David Parham said: "We are delighted with the high standard of entries from Kingsley Primary School and I know the judges found it extremely difficult to narrow them down to the nine chosen finalists.

"Fiona's winning design will be used on the Centrale Christmas card this year and we are very much looking forward to seeing the final printed design. We would like to thank all the students who entered."

Fiona will receive a state-of-the-art DVD/VHS Panasonic player for her school from shop@panasonic based in Centrale and £20 worth of vouchers to spend at Virgin Megastore in the North End shopping centre.

Sue Still, Kingsley Primary School's art teacher, said: "All of the children have done a wonderful job of bringing Christmas to life."

Fiona's mum, Kasha, said: "Fiona is over the moon she has won and we are very proud of her."

The winning design will become the shopping centre's official 2007 Christmas card and will be sent to trade customers and business contacts.