MARVELLOUS mascot makers are celebrating success in a big competition.

Around 60 budding artists from secondary schools across Inverclyde took part in a contest to create an official mascot for the Inverclyde Heritage Project.

Many of the entries had a nautical theme, in keeping with Inverclyde’s proud shipbuilding past.

St Columba’s pupil Sally Kane was first with her friendly anchor design.

Sally, 12, said: “I knew I wanted an anchor and I looked on the internet for different shapes of them. I knew I wanted a rounded shape.”

A company in London is now transforming Sally’s design into a mascot which will be used at fun runs along the heritage trail in Port Glasgow, Greenock and Gourock in August.

Sally said: “It’s great knowing my mascot will be seen everywhere.
Competition organiser Kay Clark, heritage and cultural co-ordinator, said: “We had 60 entries and the panel chose the winners. It was a really good response, the schools really got on board on it.”

The mascot will be used to start each run with the aim of getting people on the heritage trail. The runs will take place on the first three Sundays in August.

Sally received £50 and a t-shirt for her mascot design.

Runners up Danae Lavery, 13, from Inverclyde Academy, Catriona Gallagher, 13, and Kane Sheridan from St Stephen’s High, all received t-shirts and £25.
Alicia Maxwell, of Craigmarloch School, stood in to represent Kane from the joint campus, as he was unable to attend.