The winners of art and literacy competition the Perfect Packed Lunch Awards were announced on Tuesday (December 4).

The shortlisted artists gathered for a special ceremony at the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge in Canterbury.

The nine children from primary schools across Kent were joined by parents, teachers and VIPs.

The competition tasked children with using words and pictures to design an ideal packed lunch fitting into one of 12 categories: superhero; princess; pirate captain; famous artist; knight; book character; celebrity; healthy; cheesy; fantasy; fairytale; and historic.

Lottie Byne from Borden Primary near Sittingbourne was named both overall and superhero winner.

In addition, separate awards were granted to: Amelia Cordeaux from Herne Bay Junior in the celebrity category; Isabelle Ling from Newlands Primary in Ramsgate in the book-character category; and Otis Phoenix from Palm Bay Primary in Cliftonville in the knight category.

The competition was organised by the KM Charity Team, and coordinator Sophie Wallace said: “Once again, Perfect Packed Lunch has captured the imaginations of young children all over the county.

“The quality of the entries has been absolutely staggering, making the task of selecting a shortlist and just four winners so, so difficult.

“It’s great to see how this competition inspires young children to show to everybody the extent of what they can achieve with their creative and literacy skills.

“Many, many congratulations to all of the shortlisted artists, and well done to everybody else who took part.”

Almost 400 children entered the competition, and the other shortlisted artists were Lily Cox from Sandling Primary in Maidstone, Rupert Jonny McQuillan from the Academy of Cuxton Schools in Rochester, Evie O’Connor from St John’s Catholic Primary in Gravesend, Charlene Doran from Eastry C of E Primary, and Meena Rose Lodh from Fleetdown Primary in Dartford.

Every finalist was presented with goody bags and certificates by caterer and events organiser Blessing Enakimio and representatives of fellow competition supporters Golding Vision, Kent Libraries, Canterbury Council, art shop Cowling and Wilcox and the Beaney, and their art will be on display at the Beaney for the next six months.

Overall winner Lottie Byne was also presented with a hamper of art supplies from Cowling and Wilcox.