A SALISBURY cub has come first in a national competition with the stamp he designed for the scout's Christmas post.

Nathan Liversage (10), of the 3rd Salisbury Cub and Scout Group, beat hundreds of other entries to win the annual Scout and Guide Christmas Stamp Competition, organised by The British Private Post Newsletter.

His eyecatching design was judged the most impressive, as it not only made good use of a Christmas theme, but also incorporated the scout's 'swish' logo.

To mark his achievement, Nathan's scout group framed ten of his winning stamps and presented the picture to him at their weekly meeting last Thursday.

It also contained stamps designed by two other members of the group, Peter Liversage and Connor Miles, who had their drawings transformed into stamps for the 2003 Christmas post, too.

Jill Offer, Arkela of the 3rd Salisbury Cub and Scout Group, said: "We were really pleased for Nathan.

"We kept the presentation as a surprise.

"He had no idea it was happening and afterwards he was grinning from ear to ear."

The group itself received a cheque for £100, which Mrs Offer said would be use to buy some five-aside football shirts, as Nathan was a keen football player.

Cubs from the 3rd Salisbury Cub and Scout Group seem to have a good eye for design, as over the years seven of their stamps have been used for the Christmas post.

Designs are submitted whenever a new stamp is required and the winners see their stamps printed and sold throughout the area.

The scouts are not producing any new stamps this year, but the service is continuing and Nathan's winning design will be available later this year.