A HAVERING schoolgirl was bursting with joy after winning a poster competition to promote fireworks safety in the borough.

Thirty-four schools took part in the initiative, organised by the Met Police, London Fire Brigade (LFB) and Havering Council.

A safety presentation was given to every school by local PCSOs and officers, and Year 5 and 6 children were then asked to demonstrate what they had learnt by designing a poster.

A winner from each school was selected, judged by Chief Inspector Tracey Goddard-King from Havering Police, station manager Steve Smith from the LFB and leader of Havering Council, Cllr Michael White.

Annarie Cole, 10, from St Patrick’s School, in Lowshoe Lane, Romford, was named overall winner.

The girl and her family were invited to a special presentation at Dagenham and Redbridge FC gound last Saturday (October 30), where she was presented with a copy of her winning poster and a Daggers football shirt.

The club also kindly donated a pair of tickets to each of the winning entries.

Annarie’s poster has now been adopted as the official Firework Safety Poster for Havering.

A police spokesman said: “The competition was tough and the quality of all the entries outstanding.”