THE egg-celent winners of the Bolton News' 2019 Design an Egg competition have been revealed.

Two egg-spert champions have been chosen by the readers from 40 finalists, narrowed down from more than 2,000 entries.

The Bolton News offered children the chance to send in their own unique creations inspired by Easter. The winners get their designs made into Easter eggs by chocolatier Slattery, of Whitefield.

The competition was open to children and schools from across the borough and there were two age group categories — four to seven, and eight to 11.

The winner of the eight to 11 category is Ffion West, 9, who is in Year 5 at St Bartholomew's Primary in Westhoughton. She designed a bright pink egg complete with an Easter chick.

For Ffion, her win has a special meaning. Ffion is a keen young artist and often practised her drawing with her grandma, who encouraged her to enter every year.

Ffion's grandma sadly died last year and Ffion's mum, Vicky West, feels the win this time around is poignant.

Ms West says: "It's incredible that she's won this year after entering for so long."

Ffion said: "[Grandma] told me all about it. The first time I entered she said "you could win this, you're a really great drawer!""

Ffion said: "Grandma had lots of crayons and pencils. Everything you drew she put up on the fridge or in a frame."

Ms West said: "She'd put it in the memory box, Grandma didn't mind the mess."

As for her winnings, chocolate-fiend Ffion is excited to crack open her egg.

Lily-Sue Thomas, 7, is the winner of the ages four to seven category.

Lily-Sue is in Year 2 at St James Primary in Daisy Hill. Lily-Sue's egg featured a rainbow of colours with crosses from the Easter story, along with Easter bunnies.

Lily-Sue said: "I learned about the crosses in school. I wanted it to be symmetrical!"