Steps star presents young artists with panto prizes

Three young artists were each awarded tickets to the panto through Fareham Shopping Centre’s festive colouring competition.

Renee Hinton from Fareham, 5, James Gibson from Fareham, 7, and Eleanor Chalmers from Gosport, 9, were the talented winners of the shopping mall’s annual Christmas competition.

Ian "H" Watkins from recently reformed pop group Steps, hand delivered their prizes in the magical surroundings of the Centre’s Christmas Grotto – a family ticket each to Ferneham Hall’s Beauty and the Beast pantomime which he stars in.

Young shoppers took part in the colouring contest throughout November and December and a judging panel selected the best entry from each age group - 5 and under, 6-8 year olds and 9 years and over.

Fareham Shopping Centre’s Pam Marsden, Centre Director, said: “Congratulations to our three winners. Year on year the entries get better and better and it is obvious that a huge amount of hard work and time goes into all of the Christmassy creations. This year’s efforts were no exception.”

The three winners and their families will be heading to the last showing of the panto on New Year’s Day and shoppers will be able to see their entries on display in the Centre over the next few months.