A Hornchurch school pupil has been declared the winner of a competition for students to design their own face masks.

Hornchurch High School pupil Iqra, 11, won with her black mask decorated with yellow sunflowers.

Romford Recorder: Year seven pupil Iqra won the competition for her sunflower maskYear seven pupil Iqra won the competition for her sunflower mask (Image: Hornchurch High School)

Iqra, who wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up, told this paper: "It feels good to have won.

"I really like sunflowers and drawing nature, so thought why not turn it into a mask."

The school launched the mask competition on April 1, just before the Easter holidays, and all students were asked to create a design for their art homework.

Romford Recorder: Iqra's winning design was inspired by natureIqra's winning design was inspired by nature (Image: Hornchurch High School)

Staff member Andrew Wilkin, who initiated the competition with the school’s art department, explained it was designed to encourage students to wear face coverings.

He said: “I thought it would be a fun activity, and didn’t know of anywhere else that had done it.

“The younger children, mainly the Year 7s, were particularly excited about it.”

Romford Recorder: Rosie was one of the three runners-upRosie was one of the three runners-up (Image: Hornchurch High School)

Mr Wilkin, who lives in Hornchurch, shortlisted three of the best designs and then asked his colleagues to help choose a winner.

Romford Recorder: Olivia's design was shortlistedOlivia's design was shortlisted (Image: Hornchurch High School)

One hundred masks of the winning design will be created by Total Merchandise and sold to pupils for £2 each.