ENTRIES are pouring in for St Helena Hospice’s and the Gazette’s Doodle a Deer competition.

Across north-east Essex, children have been getting out coloured pens and pencils to create their own Rudolphs.

Two family tickets to the panto Cinderella at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, are up for grabs in the competition.

St Helena Hospice and the Gazette have teamed up to support the charity’s first Reindeer Dash, on Sunday, December 14.

James Wills, editor of the Gazette, said: “We have had some amazing, colourful entries sent to the Gazette office and are looking forward to seeing more."

Children up to 13 can enter by submitting their best drawings of a Christmas reindeer.

The Gazette will print a selection of the best entries and later reveal the two winners during the week of December 8.

Drawings which are highly commended will receiveaDoodle a Deer certificate.

There are two judging categories, up to six years old and seven to 13.

All entries will be on display at the Reindeer Dash. It is a familyfriendly sponsored walk or run around Colchester’s Castle Park.

There is a choice between a 1km and 5km route and all ages are welcome. To register before the day, the entry is only £5 per child and £10 per adult. All reindeer ‘dashers’ will receive fun reindeer antlers and a flashing red nose.

Entries for the Doodle a Deer competition must be sent to Caroline Tilley, Content Editor, Daily Gazette, Unit 1, Brunel Court, Brunel Way, Colchester, CO4 9XP, by 5pm on Monday, December 1.

We regret they cannot be returned.

To register online for the Reindeer Dash, visit sthelenahospice.

org.uk/reindeer14