THE winners of competition challenging people to say what their local area means to them have been announced.

The competition, which was called What Longbridge Means to Me, received 1,000 entries from school children, college students and members of the public drawing their thoughts and memories on the back of an oversized postcard.

Among the winners was Millie Chappell-Pilgrim, from St Columba’s Catholic Primary School, in Lickey Road.

To mark her achievement her winning design has been printed onto a special bag for life that is currently being displayed in a pop-up gallery in a retail unit next to Costa in the first phase of the town centre.

The competition was organised by St Modwen, the developer behind the new Longbridge town centre.

Andrea Bolton, property manager at St Modwen, said: “The competition highlighted everything that makes the town centre such a great place to live, work and socialise.

"It was fantastic to see just how highly the local community regards Longbridge; with drawings ranging from children playing in the park with friends, the new shops and facilities in the town centre and the classic minis that were produced at the old MG Rover factory.

“To get 1,000 entries is brilliant and it was extremely difficult to choose our overall winners.

"The standard of entries was exceptional and I would encourage everyone to go and have a look at the pop-up gallery.”

The specially designed bags for life will be given out to members of the general public during community events in Longbridge town centre, the first phase of which opened in September 2013.

As well as receiving their own bag for life, the winners of the competition were rewarded with new art materials to help encourage their creative talents.

For more details about other community activities planned in Longbridge and the future plans for development visit .longbridgebirmingham.co.uk/life.