Run by the hospital’s paediatric outpatients clinic, the competition was started two years ago as a way of entertaining patients and their siblings when they attended for appointments.

Through a donation from the South Tamworth Bowling Club, it was hoped all entrants would receive a book prize.

 “Our motivation for the competition was to have some fun around Christmas,” director of paediatrics Helen Goodwin said.

“We chose the prizes, to get a book in the children’s hands and encourage them to read.

“There is evidence that even owning a book improves children’s literacy, something we are all passionate about.”