A COMPETITION to encourage young people to think about the significance of Remembrance Day has been launched by the Kent Messenger.

The newspaper has invited school pupils to design a poppy and one will be selected for use on the front page during Remembrance Week.

The winner will secure a two-day trip with his or her parents to the heart of Picardy in Northern France, site of the First World War's Somme battlefields.

KM editor Bob Bounds said: "Sadly there are hardly any veterans of the First World War remaining and each year the Remembrance parades have fewer from the Second World War.

"It has never been more important to hand down to the generations the importance of recognising the sacrifice made for our freedom. That's why we feel it is so important to have a child design a poppy for our front page."

Any youngster still at school can submit a paintings, drawing or computer graphic version of the poppy, the symbol of Remembrance.

Entries should be go to the KM at 6&7 Middle Row, Maidstone, ME14 ITG, or by email to kmcompetition@thekmgroup.co.uk by November 5.

Full details and terms and conditions appear in the November 2 edition of the Kent Messenger.

Read about the tourist attractions of Picardy on our special Holiday Messenger report