First prize went to Martha Rickett, aged 10, whose winning watercolour painting features a young girl looking up at a tree with the slogan “The trees blossom and so do we.”

Her artwork will now be transform

ed into a giant four-metre banner which will be pasted onto the side of three recycling lorries and seen by residents as they work throughout the district. Her design will also be used to create a special Platinum Jubilee card which will be sent on behalf of the Council to Her Majesty the Queen.

Runner up designs were created by Iris Thompson, also aged 10, whose design features the lifecycle of a tree and Jack Ward, aged 7, who is encouraging everyone to “Plant more trees.” These designs will each be displayed on one lorry.

In keeping with the “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee” theme, the winners will also receive £50 of National Garden Gift Vouchers.

All competition entries will be on display at the Council Offices at The Grange in Nutholt Lane, Ely and used to create special Jubilee bunting to display in reception.

The competition is one of a number of activities being organised by the Council to help celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

More than 100 trees are being planted throughout the District and logged on the Queen’s Green Canopy website. A commemorative beech tree was planted in Brinkley in March and on 30 May the county’s largest tree maze at Ely Country Park will be officially opened.

Chairman of the Council, Councillor Alan Sharp who selected the winning designs said: “We have been amazed by the high number of entries and the superb creativity of the artwork provided. I am so pleased so many young people in East Cambs have really got behind this initiative, which not only celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee but also helps raise awareness of the need to plant more trees and help look after our environment.”