CHRISTMAS has come early for these youngsters, who are the lucky winners of this year’s Bolton News Christmas cards competition.

Jolie Smethurst, aged six, from Kearsley, won the four to seven category, after finishing runner-up last year.

Tom Jones, aged eight, from Breightmet, won the eight to 11 category.

Both children will have their cards professionally printed by Impression Ltd, of Bolton, and have won vouchers for a bike, worth £100, at the retailer Decathlon.

We received thousands of entries for the competition, sponsored by The Chinese Buffet in Bolton, and readers voted for the winner.

Jolie, a pupil at St Stephens CE Primary in Kearsley, won by more than double the votes of the runner-up in her age category.

Her card was a picture of Santa and his reindeer setting off from the North Pole with their presents.

She said: “I feel amazing. I’m really pleased to win the voucher. It’s going to be really good to get a bike for Christmas.”

Jolie also wants a Zoomer Interactive Dog and a membership for the children’s website Moshi Monsters for Christmas.

Her proud dad Richard, aged 39, said: “She’s done really well, the pictures are really good.”

Tom Jones, who goes to SS Osmund and Andrew RC Primary School, produced a picture of Santa with a sack of Christmas presents, along with his reindeer and a snowman.

He said: “I feel very lucky because so many people voted for me.

“I’m very happy that I won a bike, because it’s an early Christmas present.

“One of my friends has said I’m going to be famous, but another one doesn’t believe that I’m going to be in the paper!”

For Christmas, Tom says he would like the LEGO Star Wars Republic Gunship.

His mum, Joan, aged 38, said: “He’s made up, absolutely chuffed.

“His brother Harry has been in The Bolton News before, so this is Tom’s chance to get in the paper.”

l The runners-up in the four to seven category were Eva McDonald, aged five, and Remi-Mae, aged seven. The runners-up in the eight to 11 category were Chloe Nuttall, aged 10, and George Parr, aged eight.

Other prizes for the runners-up are being donated by Smyths toys of Middlebrook and Domino’s pizza as well as Christmas-themed chocolate from Slattery in Whitefield.