Luck of the Draw for Schoolchildren

Schoolchildren drew on their imagination to design homes for the future in a competition.

The contest was launched as part of South Tyneside Council's celebrations to mark 100 years of council housing.

Last July was the centenary of the Addison Act, which was brought in at the end of World War One to address the housing shortage and build 'homes fit for heroes'.

Children from schools around the Borough were asked to illustrate a house from the past, present or future.

Three lucky first place winners were invited to The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, to be awarded certificates and prizes.

The cultural venue is currently staging an exhibition called No Place Like Home, which focuses on residents' photos, stories and memories of growing up in council estates in South Tyneside.

Cllr Mark Walsh, Lead Member for Housing and Transport, who presented the prizes, said: "The standard of entries we got was excellent, and the children really let their imagination run wild.

"We loved looking at all their pictures. This competition was a great way to commemorate the Addison Act and how important it was, both on a national and local level.

"The Act enabled working class families in the Borough to offer their children a better start and decent quality of life, as well as instilling a sense of pride."

First place winners in each of the different age groups were: Cameron Coyne, six, of Harton Primary School, Ishara McGlasham, eight, of St Oswald's Primary School and Emily Miller, also of St Oswald's.

To watch a video of the children and their winning entries visit https://youtu.be/62FhF9bbNCE