The winner of the Telegraph & Argus Crocus Appeal Christmas card competition says she is happy to be supporting a cause with a very special place in her heart.

Rosie Hodge, ten, was the overall winner in the contest to design a festive card that will go on sale to raise money for the appeal – set up to raise £1 million for cancer fighting equipment at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

She says that one of the best things about winning the contest is knowing that it is helping fight cancer – her father Damien succumbed to the illness when she was younger.

A panel of judges picked the three winners who each get £100 to spend on art materials, with Rosie coming out as overall winner and also winning an iPad.

The pupil of Sandal Primary School in Baildon was chosen for her snowman design.

She said: “It’s amazing to have won it.

“My dad died of cancer, so really I wanted to enter the competition to help this charity.”

She plans to put the iPad to good use, taking plenty of photos of her newborn younger brother Stanley, who is just nine-weeks-old.

Rosie said: “It was really exciting when my mum told me I’d won. I decided to do a snowman because it is supposed to snow this Christmas. I can’t believe I won.”

Her school also wins a defibrilator as part of the prize, and Victoria Merriman, assistant head teacher at the school, said: “We’re very proud her work will help raise money for a worthwhile charity.

“It will help so many people and their families. We’re delighted she’s won the competition.”

Children aged four to 14 were invited to take part in the competition, asked to create a festive image that incorporated the crocus symbol.

Winning the four to six age group was six year old Callum McLeod from Crossflatts Primary School. He drew an image of Father Christmas delivering gifts, and said: “I’m really happy – I’ve won a lot of money.”

When asked why he chose his design he said: “Because it’s better than everything else.”

And 12-year-old Eleanor Groom from St Joseph’s Primary School, who won the 11-14 category with her image of a robin, said: “I’m very happy to have been picked.”

The winners were presented with their prizes on Thursday at the Leisure Exchange, who have sponsored the contest and where entries and the prizes have been on display since it launched.

Steve Petersen, manager of the exchange, said: “There was a fantastic response to the contest.

“Winning is obviously going to be a very big thing for these children.

“They have some great talent and have come up with some really good designs.”

The cards will go on sale shortly in the Telegraph & Argus office and Bradford University.