A GROUP of students had the opportunity to partake in a delightful tea party hosted by the Mayor of Test Valley, Cllr Alan Dowden.

The party, held in the mayor's parlour at the Guildhall, celebrated Appleshaw St Peter's CofE Primary School student Katerina Kotelnik's exceptional achievement as the winner of the Coronation Card design competition.

Her design was chosen as the official card sent by the Mayor of Test Valley to King Charles III.

The competition garnered an impressive 562 entries from talented schoolchildren across the borough.

READ MORE: Pupil chosen from hundreds of entries to design a card for the King

Out of the numerous submissions, a shortlist of 15 highly commended entries has been showcased on the Test Valley Borough Council's website, highlighting the exceptional creativity and talent displayed by the young participants.

Expressing his gratitude to all the schoolchildren who took part in the competition, the mayor said: "I would like to thank all the schoolchildren across the borough who entered this competition; it was a great response, and choosing a winner was not easy."

Among the notable entries was a collaborative effort by Year 4 Sycamore Class at Romsey Primary School.

The students created a captivating portrait of King Charles, cleverly fashioned as a puzzle with each individual pupil painting a different part.

While the artwork was too large to be used as a card, it has been beautifully framed and will be proudly displayed at the Crosfield Hall in Romsey.