HAMPSHIRE County Council’s library service is inviting four to 11 year olds to get creative by designing a brand new children’s library card.

For the first time ever, a competition is being run by the county’s libraries to replace existing cards with two new fun and vibrant designs by kids who have completed this year’s current summer reading challenge, the Big Friendly Read.

Children will receive an entry form once they finish the summer reading challenge along with their medal and certificate, and can create any design they imagine from now until September 30.

Designs could be inspired by a whole range of favourite animals and characters, including “swashbuckling pirates”, “pretty princesses”, “daring dragons” and “lovely ladybirds”. Favourite books read in the challenge are the perfect inspiration for entries which can be drawn in any colour or design. Competition entries are limited to one per child and split into two categories – ages four to seven and eight to 11.

The winner of the four-seven category will receive a Kindle Fire Kids, and a copy of the book Where’s Will, while the 8-11 winner will be given a 3Doodler and a copy of Where’s Will.

Designs can be submitted by post, scanning it into a computer or taking a photograph of it and attaching it to an email. Both winners’ designs will be made into actual library cards. All entrants will need to provide a postal and email address, phone number and state their age.

Winners will be selected by a judging panel made up of council library staff and will be contacted by the end of October.