CLERGY and dignitaries around the world will receive a Christmas card designed by a schoolboy from Wickhambreaux, near Canterbury.

Nine-year-old Sam Foster won a competition to design a card for the Canterbury Diocese.

His Nativity scene beat entries from hundreds of children at church schools throughout Kent and will be used by the new Archbishop, Dr Rowan Williams, and other church leaders.

The Bishop of Dover, the Rt Rev Stephen Venner, led a special assembly at Wickhambreaux Church of England Primary School on Tuesday to present Sam with his prize. After a lively discussion on the meaning of Christmas and a prayer, Sam received £30 for himself and £100 for the school.

The Bishop said: "I think it's lovely that children in the diocese are concentrating on producing a picture that says something about Christmas when so much of the meaning of this festival has been lost."

Sam said: "I was surprised that I won because although I am good at art I thought many others would be as good or better. I will use the cheque for something special, perhaps a painting set."