SALES of the Wiltshire Times Christmas card designed by three-year-old Hannah Jordan have benefited two west Wiltshire children's groups.

Stepping Stones Opportunity Group in Trowbridge, which takes special needs pre-school children, sold more than 900 cards and has made £300 from the sales.

And Westwood Nursery, attended by Hannah herself, has made about £100 from the sale of the 500 cards it was given as her prize.

Wiltshire Times marketing manager Louise Keenan said: "This has been a very successful venture. We had hundreds of entries for the competition to design the card.

"This was the first

year we have run the competition and we had such an overwhelming response we hope to run it each year."

The money donated to Stepping Stones will go towards its general running costs and help pay for therapists.

The opportunity group, which has 63 children

aged between ten months and five-years on its

roll, helps disabled youngsters and those with

syndromes or develop- mental problems.

Administrator Barbara Jansen said the group was delighted with the success of the cards.

She said: "We have to buy in extra therapy for the children from occupational, speech and music therapists.

"In total it costs about £80,000 to run the group, and we get about £43,000 from the council. We have to find the rest.

"We would like to thank everybody at the Wiltshire Times and those who bought the cards for their support."

The Christmas cards were also on sale at the Wiltshire Times office at 15, Duke Street, Trowbridge, and at events attended by the paper.

Hundreds of Wiltshire Times readers voted for the winning card in a phone poll.