A nine-year-old primary school pupil who designed an award-winning Christmas card being used across Suffolk this year has received a prize for her work from the county’s Bishop.

Janina Millman, who attends Elmsett Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School near Hadleigh, designed the winning card after the Church of England in Suffolk invited church schools across the county to enter the competition to design an image for use across the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese during December.

Entries came in from pupils aged from 5 to 11, with children using coloured pencils, felt pens and crayons to produce a wide range of depictions of the Christmas story.

Janina said: “I thought about the Christmas story and when Jesus died on the cross and put the two ideas together and got the card.”

The Rt Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese, presented Janina with her prize, The Lion Storyteller Book of Parables.

Bishop Martin said: “I love the symbolism of Janina’s card. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace and rejoice with the angels, the shepherds and the wise men. We also look ahead to Easter, and Janina’s card shows that really wonderfully.”

Elaine Burdiss, headteacher at Elmsett CEVCP School, said: “I am so pleased that one of our pupils has been successful in winning the competition. Christmas forms an important part of our celebrating together as a school.”

Jane Sheat, Diocesan Director of Education, added: “We want to give children the opportunity to understand the meaning of Christmas and this is one way of helping them to explore what it is all about.

“Well done to all those who took part, and congratulations to Janina.”